No matter who you are, you have something inmon with me. You want more cash without giving up on your creatureforts. Doing this may be easier than you think. There are simple ways for everyday consumers to save money without feeling the pinch on your current lifestyle. I know people who use dishes instead of plastic because it’s cheaper, but also limit use of their dishwasher to save on water. Washing dishes constantly is not my idea of easy savings. I have other ideas, and so should you:

1. Ebay

Today’s technology has turned the proverbial garage sale into something more high-tech and a lot easier to manage. Everyone has useless stuff lying around, be it mistaken purchases of handbags, old cell phones,puters, expensive strollers that your kids have grown out of… and the list goes on. Register for an eBay account and you’ll be guided through the process of posting your unwanted items on the online auction site. Remember to use detailed descriptions and good catchphrases when describing your items to catch customers’ attention. Selling on eBay requires no investment and you’ll make a lot more profit on your goods than you would from a roadside garage sale.

2. Get Cash for Scrap Gold

Go through your garage, the backs of forgotten drawers and jewelry boxes for old gold coins, forgotten heirlooms or any precious metals. You can sell gold, platinum and almost anything of value at a high payout. With the economy still stumbling its way back from the recession, the price of precious metals is at a high, so now is a great time to sell.

There are numerous online cash for gold dealers who will buy gold and useless precious metals. It’s important to research anypany youre thinking about working with and ensure that it is legitimate. It is also a good idea to find apany that offers insurance on your goods during transit to help ensure that they dont get lost in the mail and that they can be tracked. In general, you will usually earn more selling precious metals through an online dealer because they have less overhead and will offer a higher payout.

3. Collect Spare Change

Everyone has spare change weighing down their wallets. If you’re like me, you let it accumulate until it’s simply too heavy to carry around and then you dump it in a charity box somewhere. This change can actually amount to a significant sum when added up. Mark an easily accessible jar in your house as the change jar. Whenever you want to empty your wallet or find pennies in the vacuum cleaner, put it in this change jar.

You can assign the jar as a fund for something you’ve been saving up for and treat yourself when you’ve earned the necessary amount. A friend of mine designated her change jar for her dream vacation. She set herself a budget for the trip and pledged that when she had accumulated half the cost of the trip, she would splurge on the other half and treat herself. She’s now saving up for her second trip!

4. Home-Brewed Coffee

Can’t give up your morning Joe? Is Starbucks a part of your morningmute? Just by skipping on themercial coffee, you can save a whole heap of cash. Simply make your own caffeine fix at home before leaving in the morning. This will also make your morning rush a bit less so, as you reward yourself with an extra ten minutes usually reserved for the coffee stop. If instant coffee just won’t cut it, invest in a coffee machine. A Keurig, for example, which brews fresh single-serve coffee with no mess, provides an aromatic taste to rival Starbucks, and is priced at a bit over a hundred dollars, will pay itself out within just a month or two.

5. Choose the Off Time Performance

When going to a movie or show of any nature, go for the matinee performance. Afternoon performances are priced significantly lower than evening ones. Peak times can also raise the price of a ticket considerably. Book tickets in advance, and choose nonpeak performances for the most bang for your buck. An added perk is that matinee shows are often not sold out, leaving you the option of moving to better seats free of charge, and less traffic. Also, bring along your own snacks. Soda, popcorn and souvenirs are way overpriced, and could cost a lot more than you paid for the ticket.

6. Borrow, Don’t Buy

It’s often tempting to buy the latest CD, movie or book, but after watching or reading it once, you’ll likely never pick it up again. The library is a great choice for free books and movies. You can place an online hold on something you have your eye on or even place a hold on it before ites out! This ensures that you’ll be up to date without spending a dime. You can also rent movies for a small fee from your local Blockbuster or subscribe to Netflix for home delivery, and as to music, buy the iTunes version rather than the CD. You’ll save money and listen to the music a lot more often.

7. Sell Your Hair

One of the latest new looks in fashion are bobs and pixie cuts. Now you can look up to date and make money on the deal! Those who have healthy, non-treated hair can grow it long, then sell it for a significant sum. Just let your stylist know in advance that you want to sell the hair from your next haircut and they may be able to help you do it.

Of course, the most effective way of saving money is to pinch every penny. However, we can’t all live like misers, saving up for the dream of someday. So for those of us who like the good things in life, there are ways to enjoy today, while still saving up for tomorrow.

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