Whether you’re trying to save for something special or dealing with a difficult financial situation, there is always a good reason to make more money and boost your income. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the time, energy, or motivation to work any more hours than you already do. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can make some extra cash without the extra effort. Here are eight popular methods to flip your work to earnings ratio on its head and make some more money.

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1. Open A Better Bank Account
One of the easiest ways to boost your income is switching bank accounts. If you’re anything like most people, then your current savings account interest rate is far from the best, but that doesn’t mean that you have to settle for it. By taking ten minutes out of your day and moving to a bank account with a decent interest rate, you can easily earn several hundred dollars more each year. Of course, this won’t appear overnight, but it will make things a little easier in the long run.

2. Opt For Less Desirable Shifts
You may not want to work any more hours than you already do, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stick with the shifts you’ve got. Most companies offer financial incentives and rewards to employees working shifts they deem undesirable. These include overnights, weekends, and public holidays. If you were to switch over to one of these less desirable work patterns, you could earn significantly more than you already do, even though you still have the exact same job.

3. Drive Around In A Billboard
The long commutes to work each morning may seem like a huge waste of time, but there is a way you can make these tiresome journeys completely worth it. Depending on your car and how long you drive for each day, you could use your vehicle as advertising space for companies and businesses. This can seem a little tacky, and sometimes even embarrassing, but considering just how much you can earn, without any effort whatsoever, it’s worth thinking about.

4. Sell Your Body To Science
When most people imagine selling their bodies to science, they think about the various organs you can buy on the black market. Thankfully, the reality is a whole lot different. While some procedures, like sperm and feces donation, can earn you some pocket money, egg donors and those partaking in sleep studies can easily make thousands. Of course, there are requirements and restrictions, but, if you were to be accepted, the rewards are much greater than the work.

5. Set Up An Online Store
Crafty hobbies, like painting and knitting, offer plenty of fun and stress relief, but what most people don’t realize is how easy it is to make money from them too. There are plenty of places that you could sell your creations, from online stores, like Etsy, to local craft fairs and car boot sales. Selling your products online is probably the easiest way to go, as you’d only need to post them to your customers, rather than manning a stall every weekend.

6. Rent Out Your Spare Space
When you have a spare room in your house, it can be tempting to turn it into a games room, guest bedroom, or even just storage. Unfortunately, none of these ideas are going to make you any money. Instead, you should consider renting out your space on a short-term rental platform, like Airbnb. The room will need to be cleaned and kept in good condition, but, other than this, there’s no real work you need to do.

7. Invest In Local Real Estate
Of course, you might not like the idea of having strangers staying in your home, in which case, you could invest in real estate and have them sleep in another one. Unfortunately, this investment opportunity is far from cheap, but, if you have the money spare, you could gain a steady income with very little effort whatsoever. All you’d need to do is hire a property management company to do all the work.

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8. Use Cashback And Reward Cards
Every time you visit a store or restaurant, make sure that you check to see whether or not they offer some sort of reward card or loyalty programme. These days, most of them do. All you’d need to do is present your card every time you shop, and you’ll receive points, which you should be able to exchange for a discount, freebie, or another reward. You may even get the odd surprise throughout the year. This will save you some cash and inevitably boost your income.

If you want to make more money without working any more hours, then consider the methods listed above.

If you feel as though you’re a bit boxed in with money at the minute, we’re not surprised, and you’re not alone. It’s so easy to get yourself into a pickle with money that you might not feel as though you can get out of. There’s so many twists and turns that your life is going to make financially, and sometimes it can lead you to the rut that you feel like you’re in at the minute. To make sure your financial future is bright and clear, we want to try and make things easier for you. We think that we’ve come up with some great ways that you can get yourself back to a good financial position, and onto bigger things. So, have a read on to see if we can help you through this dark time.

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Serious Setbacks

There are some serious setbacks that you’re going to have faced in your life, all of which will have ultimately lead you to reading this article. One of the worst that can happen is getting yourself into a pile of debt that you can’t pay off, with the consequence being bankruptcy in some cases. Now, whilst this might not apply to you all, you shouldn’t think that your debts are going to stay your debts for the rest of your life. If you miss minimum payments, or don’t pay them all together because you simply can’t then bankruptcy is the only option. Now, it’s not the be all and end all, and you can get remove bankruptcy from credit reports if you know how to. Having it on your credit report can mean big trouble for you in the future, so make sure that you follow that link and see if you can find any useful information. If you haven’t gone as far as to file for bankruptcy, but you know you’re running out of time to pay your debts, you need to get in touch with a financial advisor to put you on the right path before things get out of control.

Minor Setbacks

Minor setbacks can so easily lead to big problems, so we want to help you avoid them as much as possible. The first minor setback that you can have is something like losing your job. We’re living in such an unstable economic climate, that it’s no wonder so many people are being put in a rut with money. If you are ever to lose your job, have recently lost it, or are having your hours reduced, then you need to think logically of a way forward. Even if it’s just getting a small part time job to increase your income, it’s so important that you do!

Learning From Mistakes

The main mistake that you need to learn from is debt. We’ve spoke about how easy it is to get yourself into debt, but it’s not so easy to learn from it, especially when you have relied on borrowing money for so long. So, cancel all credit cards, close down store cards, cancel any memberships you don’t need, and focus on your own money. The less chances you have to borrow, the less likely you are to be tempted to do so.

When you find yourself steadily declining into a difficult financial situation, it can be incredibly stressful and hard to handle. Many people find that they don’t even know how they found themselves faced with monetary worries, as often the issue comes from lots of minor expenses piling up on top of one another, rather than an obvious expense causing the root of the problem. While, when you are in this situation, it may feel isolating, the truth is that many people face financial worries at one point or another. If you are struggling with your incomings and outgoings at the moment, then here are seven tips to get you started on the road back to financial security.

Be open with your family

Financial problems can take a toll on your family, due to stress and anxiety regarding an uncertain future. However, one of the most damaging ways that money troubles can affect a family is through secrecy. When you are hiding the extent of your financial deficit from your family, not only will it cause you untold stress, but it will also create a rift between you and the people you are hiding from. The one person you certainly shouldn’t hold any information from is your partner, as they are your equal and have a right to know, as well as the responsibility to help you figure things out.

Depending on your children’s ages, it may also be worthwhile trying to explain that you are having to make cutbacks and that money is tight, so that they can be understanding of the situation. The more members of the family that you tell about your financial situation, the more support you can receive, and it may also reduce some of the burden you are feeling on your own shoulders.

Seek financial support

If you feel that you will struggle to get out of your financial situation by yourself, or even with the support from loved ones, then it is important to seek financial support elsewhere. For example, you could seek the help of an accountant or financial advisor who can help you create a plan of action, or evaluate your finances for you, in case there is anything you have missed yourself. Also, you may want to get advice on installment loans, in order to pay off any outstanding debts or bills which cannot be delayed (visit this page for more information).

Evaluate your spending habits

In order to get a grasp of how big your financial problem is, it is important to just get everything down on paper. If you know how, you might find it useful to create a spreadsheet of your ingoing’s and outgoings which automatically updates when you add new information to it. Alternatively, you can write down all of the information regarding your spending and earnings, and calculate your monthly profits/deficit yourself.

This is the best way to pinpoint obvious issues in your spending, and allow you to come up with a plan to address the biggest spending anomalies straight away. The quicker that you can start making changes, the quicker you will start to improve your finances.

Come up with a plan of action

Once you’ve addressed any obvious issues, such as monthly subscriptions which were unnecessarily spending money, it is time to come up with a plan of action to address the rest of your finances. There may be no quick fix to get all of the money that you need, but there are things you can do to improve your situation over time. For example, it is incredibly important that you devise a budget based on your financial evaluations. Look at how much you are currently spending, and work out a percentage of that which will help you to save some money and not spend outside of your financial lane.

For example, if you are currently in deficit of two hundred dollars a month, then you know the maximum you can spend a month is two hundred dollars less than you are spending now. Plus, you should also try to save money, so that you can pay off debts, and save to avoid further issues in the future. Also, with a strict budget in place, you know that if you overspend in one area, you will have to cut back in another.

Find ways to boost your cash flow

If you are not already working too many hours, or if the only member of your household is currently working, then you might want to consider finding ways to boost your cash flow. For example, you could find part-time work which fits into your current schedule, such as moonlighting on the side or working from home as a freelancer. This will help you to make up for any losses financially, plus if you make any spare cash which doesn’t need to be used immediately, you can save it to help your future financial situation, as well as improving your current one.

Shop smart and spend less on groceries

Groceries are one of the biggest expenditures per household, especially in family homes. Therefore, this is one key way you can cut back on your spending habits, and save money. Try doing a price comparison, and going to multiple shops for different items, rather than just shelling out extra for items which you could save on elsewhere. Where you can, use food which is in the freezer, and do your best to make meals from leftovers, as wasted food is wasted money. Most importantly, it is vital that you don’t spend more than the budgeted amount you set for food each week.

Find time to de-stress and have fun

During stressful situations, it can be easy to spend less time taking care of yourself and reconnecting with your family, so it is important to make time for what really matters when you get the chance. In order to keep yourself in the best health possible, it is important to make sure you get enough sleep every night, especially if you are having to work more to get by. Eat healthily, stay hydrated, and exercise where you can to help fight against the development of stress-related illnesses. Try and find time to have fun with your family, even if that just means relaxing together in front of the TV for half an hour, as this will help you to release tension and keep your family bond strong.

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If you’ve recently found yourself in a less than perfect financial situation, you may be looking to really turn things around for yourself. But sometimes, you can’t always find the motivation to do that. There’s something about being in a less than ideal financial place that just makes it so much harder for you to turn things around. The motivation isn’t always there. But, if you know that you want to be in a good place with your finances, then you should find that actually, being able to get there should be motivation enough. Even if you are really motivated to turn things around, a lot of the problems for you could be that you just don’t know what you need to do. But when it comes down to it, you just need to get smart.

So, what does being smart with your money look like? In short, you really need to ensure that you’re stepping back, assessing your situation, and making a commitment to chaining things around. Once you know your habits and the patterns that you find yourself doing over and over again, then you need to work on changing them. Maybe you don’t even realize what you’re doing is causing the issues. Whether you’re overspending, not making the most of your money, or you’re struggling to earn more, you’ll want to get smart about your financial future from now on. And here’s exactly how you can do it.

1. Track Your Spending

The very first thing you need to do is absolutely non-negotiable. If you want to be smarter with your cash, then you absolutely have to ensure that you’re tracking what you spend. If you just buy what you want and purchase as you feel like it, you’ll never know where your money goes. Instead, you have to know exactly what you’re spending. So track it. There are apps that help you to track your spending, you could also look to do it manually by keeping your receipts. Either way, you’ll want to start tracking right away.

2. Set Up A Budget

Alongside tracking your spending, you really have to have a budget in place. This isn’t about limiting what you spend, but more about controlling it. By creating a budget, you have more of a say over where your money goes. You can allocate money to whatever you want, but it has to be accounted for. This is the only way to ensure that you’re being smart with your money.

3. Think Before You Swipe

A big step for you here will be to think before you swipe your card. Whenever you are purchasing anything, make sure that you have thought it out, that it’s something you need or that you really want. Try to do as many planning purchases as possible and avoid anything impromptu.

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4. Cut Those Small Expenses

From here, one of the best ways to get smart is to watch the small amounts that you’re spending. Any little expense that you have, that you don’t really need, will be good to remove from your expenditure list. Think coffees on the way to work or small subscriptions that don’t add value to your life. Buy cutting out things that don’t matter, you could save a significant amount of money overall.

5. Cut Expenses You No Longer Need

Then, you can do the same with the larger ones too. Make sure that you have a huge list of everything that you pay out. Then you can start to trim it down. There are lots of ways that you can save on your monthly expenses, but removing those that are unnecessary is one of them. That way, you allocate more funds to the things that you do want to be spending on.

6. Make A Switch

For things that you can’t cut out, you should look to switch them. You will find that this is a big way you can cut down the cost of your expenses, but it’s also a smart move to make with your utilities especially. Each year, look to get a better rate on your bills, and do the same whenever things like your calling plans or insurance are due for renewal.

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7. Downgrade What You Don’t Need

But there are going to be some payments that you think are fixed and that you can’t change. But that’s never the case. If you know that you’re paying a crazy amount for your car lease, then switch that too. Get a car that costs half the monthly price. It may not look as snazzy, but do other people’s perceptions matter more to you than your financial security? It’s the same with your mortgage. If your payments are incredibly high, then you should think about selling your property and getting somewhere cheaper than you can afford.

8. Get Smarter Cards

When it comes to your financial products, you need to get smart here too. Think about the credit cards that offer rewards or that add value. If you’re spending a lot on them, make sure you have a better rate or at least benefits that you can get a lot back from.

9. Switch Balances

When it comes to any debts that you have, if they’re large amounts, you’re going to want to ensure that you focus on paying them off in the smartest way possible. Sometimes, it’s best to consolidate them all into one loan so that you know you have one rate and one payment. But again, you need to work out if this is cheaper.

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10. Get A Consolidation Loan

When it comes to any debts that you have, if they’re large amounts, you’re going to want to ensure that you focus on paying them off in the smartest way possible. Sometimes, it’s best to consolidate them all into one loan so that you know you have one rate and one payment. But again, you need to work out if this is cheaper.

11. Pay More Towards Your Debts

But even if you do that, you have to be able to pay as much as you can towards any debts that you have. If you want them gone, you need to throw money at them. So think about how you can pay off your debts quicker. If you’ve freed up money from your expenses, this is how you can do it.

12. Set Up An Automatic Savings Payment

Now, we need to talk savings. If you want to make sure that you’re getting some money behind you each month, set up a payment to your savings account that you won’t notice going.

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13. Make Some Long-Term Investments

Then you’ll want to think about the long-term investment strategies that could work for you. If this means that you need to go slow to find your feet, so be it. Just make sure that you’re doing something for the long-term. You may not see a return here for ten or more years, but that’s the point. Because you will earn more the longer you have everything in savings.

14. Think About Your Retirement

From here, you’ll then want to make sure that you’re covering off your retirement planning too. Even if you have a 401k in place, there are other retirement ideas that you might like to go with, so ensure you give them some serious thought. If you know that you want to live out your retirement comfortably, then you have to have a plan in place. No buts!

15. Focus On Your Financial Goals

Finally, above all else, you have to ensure that you’re really thinking about your financial goals and where you want to go with your life. It’s important that you’re thinking about your lifestyle and the future, and not just today or the amount of money you want. Then, you’ll want to work on ways that you can prioritize your financial goals to make this happen. Then keep them in mind and you’ll easily be able to meet them.

Now that you’ve seen the list, you should find that you’re able to really change up the way that you approach your finances. Becoming smart with your money doesn’t have to be hard. But you do have to work at it. Each of the fifteen points above should help you to do that. Yet, you may find that not all of them work for you. And that’s okay. They’re not really supposed to. As long as you can find that some of them do, then you’re off to a great start.

Go slow and see what works for you. First aim to keep your spending on track, then see what you can do to start saving more money, and freeing up more cash for the things that you want to do with your life. It takes time, and it can be tough to commit to, but if you really want to make this happen, you will.

If you really want your financial future to be as bright as it can be, you need to start working on it now. It doesn’t matter how young you are; you’re almost certainly old enough to be making plans for your future. Even if you feel financially safe and secure right now, that could all change later on in your life if you’re not putting the right plans in place and preparing for what comes next. Don’t fall into the same traps so many others have by not planning properly.

Know When You Want to Retire

First of all, you should have an aim for when you want to retire. This is important because then you will know what you need to achieve by which age, and it allows you to plan out your career more clearly. It will also help with setting goals for your pension, but we’ll talk more about that later. Give this some serious thought and aim to retire early; it’s more than possible if you plan ahead.

Slowly But Steadily Rid Yourself of Debt

Your debt can really hold you back as you get older, and that’s exactly what you want to avoid. It should be your aim to rid yourself of your debt at the earliest possible opportunity. Put a plan in place for how to clear your debts sooner rather than later. This might sound like a pipedream right now, but if you keep working towards it, there’s no reason why you can’t make it happen.

Increase Your Future Appeal to Employers

Any sensible person wants to earn more money as they gain experience. You don’t want to be stuck on the same page at the age of 50 as you were at the age of 25. So it’s up to you to continually increase your appeal to employers so that you can keep moving up and earning more. You can do a masters in leadership online if you think this will help. Senior employees always need good leadership qualities.

Make Pension Plans

Pension planning is a lot more complex than many people think. If you’re not sure where to start, you might want to discuss it with an independent financial advisor. They’ll let you know where to start and what to do, so it’s something to consider. You should also look into enrolling in your workplace pension scheme, as well as any external scheme you might want to contribute towards.

Start Investing Your Money Now

Finally, you should think about investing in your money in stocks and shares. It might sound like an alien concept to you right now, but it’s much easier to get to grips with than you might think. It’s all about putting your money in secure stocks and watching them grow slowly but steadily. If you can do that, you will have more money available to you later in your life, providing you with more security.

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It’s so easy put off future planning when you’re so wrapped up in what’s happening in the here and now. That’s perfectly understandable, but it’s up to you to break out of that habit and work hard now to ensure you have a brighter financial future ahead of you for yourself and the rest of your family.

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Typically, we’re taught that if we find a way to get rich quick, it’s probably going to be a scam. Of course, this isn’t always true. Take the lottery for instance. By playing the lottery, you could, potentially, get rich overnight. Ignoring the fact that you have more chance of getting struck by lightning three times than winning the lottery, it’s still one possibility of how you can make money overnight. Of course, any promise that you find online from an individual who claims they can make you rich should be approached with a healthy amount of scepticism. But that doesn’t mean that the opportunities aren’t out there on the market. So, let’s look at some of the get rich quick possibilities that you should buy into.

Go For A Hunt In The Attic

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Ah, now, this is certainly going to pay off most of the time. When you think about it, you collect a massive amount of junk every year. Think about Christmas presents, birthday presents, holiday souvenirs, things you inherit, and the list goes on. Where does it all end up? Well, assuming you don’t throw it out, it goes in the attic or the basement. You’ll probably be mocked for holding onto all these things, but as it turns out, it will be you who gets the last laugh.

You see buried in those unwanted gifts, and frivolous purchases will be golden nuggets with massive amounts of value. Perhaps there’s a beautiful crystal boat in a bottle that was made just long enough ago to be worth a fortune. Or, maybe it’s an old board game that was never used and has now become a collectable. Yes, these items can be your ticket to a hidden fortune, and all you need to do is go hunting.

Once you find the items, you’ll probably be wondering how to sell on. Most people opt for the standard yard sale and this, of course, is a mistake. You see, you won’t find the collectors by this type of sale. Instead, you need to reach the widest audience possible. The answer? eBay.

With eBay, you can gain a massive amount of attention, start an auction and get selling. Of course, before you can do this, you have to set yourself up as a trusted resource. You can do that, quite simply by buying a few small, cheap items first. This will raise the rating of your little online shop. After that, you should have no trouble at all attracting buyers.

Of course, this can just be the beginning. Once you get the hang of selling online, you can start making a lot more money by investing and reselling. It’s a great option for a second income, and you’ll make money faster than you’d think with this venture.

Get A Little Cryptic

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If you’re looking for one of the fastest ways people get rich, look no further than the cryptocurrency market. There are literally countless cryptocurrencies on the market today, and they are certainly not all winners so, like anything, you need to be careful. That said, it doesn’t take a lot of research to find out just how much people have made with this simple investment. For instance, the rapper 50 Cent invested years ago and found out that he had made millions through it without even trying. You might think it’s too late to get involved in this possibility, but it isn’t.

New cryptocurrencies grow every day in value, and if you want the latest inside scoop on this market, you can see it here. You’ll be able to learn exactly how to boost your investment and the right ways to buy into this exciting new opportunity. For the biggest cryptocurrency Bitcoin, you’ll need a few thousand to spend at least. Or, you’ll have to invest with credit. However, there are plenty of others that are a lot more affordable and easy to handle that could allow you to make a fortune. You just need to choose the right one.

We suggest you research the market carefully, looking at the different options before committing to one possibility.

One of the things that you’ll hear recently on the market is that cryptocurrency has finished growing. In fact, many feel it has now hit a bubble. But before you accept this, speak to some of the hardcore investors who have been part of the movement since the beginning. They will tell you that there is a tremendous opportunity for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to grow further. Get involved now you could become a millionaire overnight.

Playing With Stocks

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If you’re hoping to get rich fast, you should definitely check out the stock market. In particular, pay attention to penny stocks. Speak to a broker and find out the most valuable penny stocks on the market today. These stocks are brilliant because they are totally affordable and could grow tremendously overnight. With penny stocks, you could be investing in the next Microsoft. The little startups we’re talking about always have the potential to grow into something tremendous.

You do need to be aware though that most startups fail. Indeed, over ninety percent of startups will burn out in their first year. That’s why you should speak to a broker. While they can’t point you towards a sure thing, they can help you find one that has the most potential to become highly profitable in the next few years.

As you can see then, there are plenty of options that could allow you to get rich quick on the market. Everything from stocks to cryptocurrency and selling items online could make you a fortune in a relatively short amount of time. The key then is to stop looking at those sites promising to make you a millionaire. Instead, go out take steps to find your own fortune. We’re just scraping the surface of the opportunities that exist on the market. You can even look into property investment. Buy the right property, flip it and you can double your investment in a matter of months.