13 Financial Resolutions for 2013: Strategy #7 - Increase Your Income!

This post is part of a series on 13 money resolutions for 2013. If you’re serious about tackling your debt, you’ll need more money. You can only save so much by cutting back on spending and negotiating bills.

In my case, after reducing waste and cutting down on non-essentials, I barely eat out or shop. To find the $3000 I need each month to pay off my debt, my only option is to make more money. There are many ways to earn extra cash without spending money upfront.

**Rent a Room in Your House**
If you have a spare room, you can welcome tourists for a few days through sites like Airbnb or take in a full-time tenant. It means sacrificing some privacy, but you can earn a good amount without any upfront costs.

**Sell Stuff Online**
Even if you’ve reduced buying, you might still have clutter at home that can be sold for cash. Spend some time creating detailed ads with good pictures. eBay is great for general items, but specific sites like www.musicmagpie.com can offer better prices for CDs, games, and DVDs.

**Take a Night Shift as a Waiter or Barista**
Although taking a second job might not be appealing, it can really boost your repayments. Plus, social jobs at bars or coffee shops can be fun and provide tips.

**Babysit Some Kids**
This is ideal for students or bloggers who can study or work online while the kids are asleep.

**Find a Writing Gig for a Popular Blog**
You can find writing jobs on sites like Problogger and Elance, or by reaching out to your favorite blogs. I used to double my day job’s salary by writing for travel blogs. Even now, it remains a nice part of my income.

**Sell Your Crafts on Etsy**
If you create jewelry, clothes, or gadgets, consider opening an online shop to sell your crafts.

Here are some other flexible jobs I’ve done that didn’t interfere with my studies or work hours:

– Call center employee
– Tutoring
– Teaching piano, French, and Spanish
– Translating websites and business documents
– Waitressing at weddings and events
– Lunch supervision at school cafeterias
– Supervising school field trips
– Substitute teaching for primary schools
– Hosting at Disneyland
– Working weekends at a sports shop
– Database entry
– Hotel clerk
– Night inventories at supermarkets
– Testing cosmetics

Most of these jobs paid close to minimum wage but offered flexible hours. This allowed me to graduate college with savings by working at various times that fit into my schedule.

There’s a limit to how much you can save, but the possibilities for earning extra income are endless. Use that extra money toward your goals, and you’ll achieve them faster.

This year, I plan to make extra money by:
– Selling plots on my 90-acre land
– Starting a bed and breakfast
– Blog income
– Writing gigs
– Rental income

My goal is to find $3000 extra each month for debt repayment. You can start small and gradually increase your earnings. Remember, any extra money helps and saves you from accruing interest on debt. How do you plan to earn extra income this year?