Looking For Ways To Earn Extra Cash Over The Holidays?

• Check out Fiverr! This is an excellent site that allows you to provide a service to anyone around the world for $5. So if you have a talent or if you’re willing to do some things outside of the ordinary this site may be for you. You could earn some extra cash as well. Check it out at www.fiverr.com

• Consider shoveling snow for the elderly or for individuals who just don’t have the time to shovel their own snow. You’ll be surprised how many people would love this service.

• Check out focus groups! There are many research companies that are looking for individuals to participate in focus groups. They are really easy and some of them offer $100 for one hour just to answer a bunch of questions. 

• Mystery shopping is also becoming quite popular. Companies will pay you to shop!

What are some things that you’ve done to earn some extra cash

Are You Getting a Christmas Bonus This Year?

Have you thought of what you're going to do with your Christmas bonus? Maybe it's already spent; I hope not! The obvious answer may be to spend it on Christmas gifts. Here are a few other suggestions:

• Pay down on your debt (credit cards, line of credits, loans, etc)
• Consider making an additional payment on your mortgage (check out your banks pre-payment options)
• Put it aside for a rainy day. It could be your emergency fund
• Invest it in an RRSP or GIC or even an RESP(if you have children)
• You could give it all away (this is the time of year when a lot of families are in need, check out local charities or homeless shelters)

What do you normally do with your Christmas bonus?

It's funny, Christmas is the same day every year but yet we have a hard time budgeting for gifts. Here are some tips that may help you stay on track.

1. Determine exactly how much money you can afford to spend on gifts without using your credit cards, line of credits or overdraft
2. Make a list of everyone you would like to buy a gift for
3. Determine before you go shopping what you would like to purchase for each individual and how much each gift will cost
4. Set aside the amount you plan to spend on each person in separate envelopes
5. Start looking for sales; don't forget you can get some great online deals
6. Go shopping

After making your list, you may find that you don't have enough money to buy a gift for everyone. You could either reduce the amount you're spending on some of the other people on your list, or you can remove some people from your list. This is a hard one to do, but it will force you to be creative. I've had people make me gifts, I've even had someone cook me my favorite meal as a gift.

Let me know what some of your ideas are for Christmas shopping.

15 Ways to Stop Wasting Money on Food

Check out these great tips on saving money on food.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/alpha-consumer/2011/10/26/15-ways-to-stop-wasting-money-on-food?msg=1

Are You Living Above Your Needs?

Are you spending more money than you make? If so, then you're living above your needs. Maybe you don't know exactly how much you're spending. Try this! Make a list of everything you spend for one month. I mean everything; even if you spent 5 cents, write it down. After the month is over review the list. Look for patterns, look for items that you are spending money on that could be cut from your spending habits. Once you've reviewed your list, do a budget.

Start by determining exactly how much your monthly net income is. Then list all of your necessities first. Such as food, rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, insurance, phone, clothes, savings, etc. If you find that your money is almost finished after the necessities, consider reducing your insurance and your phone bill. Do you really need that blackberry or iphone? Always ask what promotions your cell phone provider is having. There are always promotions. If you’re still strapped after reducing your insurance and phone bill, your rent or mortgage payments may be too high. If you’re renting you may want to consider getting a roommate or moving to a smaller place. If you own your home, contact your bank to ask what options they have to lower your mortgage payments.

Once you've taken care of your necessities, look at your wants such as cable, spas, going to the hairdresser, shopping, movies, trips, etc. Determine how much money you can afford to spend on these wants before you actually start spending.

Tipping!





How do you feel about tipping? Should you tip every time you go to a restaurant to eat? What if the service is just horrendous, should you still tip. I always viewed tipping as a sign of getting great service. The more the tip the better the service is. So if every waiter receives a tip, what differentiates the bad, good and great waiters. What are your thoughts on tipping?


Are You Paying Too Much In Bank Fees?

Are you tired of paying that monthly chequing account fee, and constantly making sure you have the minimum amount in your account to avoid that monthly fee? Or maybe you are paying annual credit card fees. Whatever fee you’re paying, you probably want to avoid paying it.

Banking fees cut into how much you could be saving every month. There are other options out there to avoid paying fees. First I would suggest contacting your current bank to find out what kind of account you have. Determine if that account is best for your needs. If it’s not, ask your banker what other accounts they offer. If you are a senior or a student ask if they have student or senior plans, often times the monthly fee is waived for these accounts.  If your current bank doesn’t have any account plans that suit your needs, shop around. Check out President’s Choice Financial and ING Direct, both offer free banking.

If you’re paying annual fees on your credit card, contact your credit card company and ask them what that fee includes. You may be surprised to know that you don’t want what’s included in that annual fee. Ask for other options they may have. Find out what credit cards they offer without an annual fee. Also shop around with other banks to see what they offer. While you’re speaking with your credit card company, why not ask them if they can lower your interest rate as well. You’ll be surprised how easy this actually is.