10 ways to save (and make) money in a downturn economy!

I do not want to have a lengthy article or fill your head with "fluff". I am here to either save you money or make you money while the economy and the rest of the world is spinning out of control. The good news is that if everyone employs just one step mentioned within this blog, the economy will improve. Think about it. If you saved $30.00 per month on reduced energy costs you would have money to go out to eat, which in turn gives money to the restaraunt who then pays the rent and so on and so on. I challenge you to simply find 2 items out of our list of 10 and do them. You will not only be helping your current financial situation, but you will be helping the overall economy. Now that this information is out of the way....onwards my friend!

1.) Take some time and plan your meals. Buying fresh over frozen, specifically if you have a large family, will pay off. Buy a 10lb roll of hamburger and plan ten different meals. For example, make taco's, a pasta dish, hamburger helper, hotdogs and hamburgers, and even meatloaf. Do the same with a bag of Great Value Chicken Breasts from Wal-Mart. Either way, make sure you have a dinner "menu" and the recipe's that you will be using handy, perhaps on the fridge. If you really can't cook and need a how to guide, click here!

2.) Save money on your electric bill. It took me forever to employ this one simply because I felt it wasn't that simple. It wasn't until after the co-op that I belong to charged me multiple deposits, late fees and reconnect fees that I finally decided to see what the hype was about. It works folks. Get more information here.

3.) If you want something to do in your spare time and you aren't the most computer savvy, then I have the site for you! I started out on this site simply because it offered cash fast without really knowing what I was doing. There is absolutely no investment on your part other than a simple domain name and even that is deferred for 30 days! This site is the only one that I have found that promises $125.00 within 24 hours and actually completes the promise. For more information click here.

4.) If you have your home on the market and it is not moving or you are thinking about placing your home on the market when you appraisal just fell by up to %50, there are ways to move your home without a realtor. Taking the realtor out of the equation is essential right now, but only if you know how! Most people believe that they need a realtor right now when it is truly a buyer's market. This is not the case. If you would like more information about this easy to follow money saver, click here.

5.) An easy way to save is to recycle your clothes. Most consignment shops will give you immediate credit towards a future purchase in their store...or better, they give you cash. Many people think worn and ruined clothes, but this is not the case. Many times, the clothes still have the original tags from the department store. Some of the clothes you will find come from estate sales and even from those who went bankrupt. It pays to shop.

6.) If gas prices have you blue, then find out how to make your auto run on water! Yes, I tried this too and it works. (it's surprising how far you'll go when you really need money!) It is simple to do as well. Really, I recommend this one to just about anyone since it also saves the environment! Get the information for this BIG $$$$ Saver here!

7.)This idea can both save you money and make you money! Creating spa products at home is relatively easy. You get to soak in the finest scents and most luxurious feels while making a little extra income. While I have not personally tried this method, my girlfriend tried a similar method with candles. She took them to the flea market only on the weekends and she has paid off a brand new house in under two years. If you are unsure of where to start or need a push,click here.

8.) There are several creative ideas that can be used when dealing with car repo's and auctions. First, it will save you money! If you are in need of a new car but can not obtain financing and you don't have a lot of cash, then this is a must! Additionally, I have seen people who live on a small piece of land (not in the city) go to auctions, but the cars, then double the price. The cars sell in less than a week when advertised in the local papers because they are still thousands under kelly bluebook value. Best of all...this is a true part time income with full time income potential! Click here now for more information!

9.) While making dog food at home initially started because of the fear of what was in the food, people have come to realize that making dog food at home is in fact less expensive. But what do you put in your dog's chow? Click here to get up to 245 recipe's.

10.) For those of you who are unemployed and need an income, perhaps the house sitting business is right for you. This is a realtively quick start up business with little investment. Additionally, there aren't any trade certificates or tests needed. The best site I have found to find housesitters as well as advertise can be found here!

I hope that one of the above ways helps you to either make or save money. If you have something that you do that has proven to save or make money and you would like to share, feel free to email me or post a comment. We would love to share your story!

If we pull together, great things will come out of this awful time!!

~Shannon