Everyone wants to experience what it’s like to have extra cash on hand, but so many people are in debt that it’s hard to not live paycheck to paycheck. However, even if you do live paycheck to paycheck, there are certainly ways you can make some extra money and ensure your budget balances out in a beneficial way. The best way to do this is to get rid of the following six things that are costing you money, but that you can turn into extra cash.
1. Unused Monthly Expenses
Take a good hard look at your monthly expenses and take note of any recurring ones that you may be able to live without. For instance, do you pay for a monthly gym membership you don’t use? Do you subscribe to multiple magazines you don’t read or multiple streaming channels you don’t watch? If so, then now is the time to cancel those subscriptions and instead put that money towards something else, such as paying down debt.
2. Old Cars
If you have an old car sitting in your driveway, consider getting rid of it in order to make some extra cash. You can try to sell your vehicle by owner using sites like Craigslist or AutoTrader, or you can bring it to a dealership and see what they will offer you. If you have a totaled car in your driveway, you can still get some money for this beater. Find out the totaled car value of your car by doing some research or taking it somewhere that accepts these vehicles. By doing so, you can earn some extra money and get rid of that eyesore.
3. Attic and Basement Clutter
We all have attics and basements filled with items we can no longer use, but that doesn’t meant it’s all garbage. Instead, go through your attic and basement and try to find things that you could sell for some extra cash. You can hold your own garage sale, or you can try to use an online tool like Craigslist or Let Go to help you reach a larger audience and even get top dollar. Plus, once you de-clutter, you’ll have a lot more room for other items you could actually use.
4. Unused Gift Cards
Sometimes you come across a gift card to a place you won’t visit. Instead of allowing it to collect dust on your nightstand, you should instead visit websites like CardPool.com in order to get money for your unused cards. Chances are you won’t get the exact value for your gift card, but you can still get cash that you can actually put to good use.
5. Unused Services
Aside from monthly expenses and gift cards, you should also look for unused services you may be paying for and cut back. For instance, do you have a cable bill but hardly ever watch it? If so, maybe it’s a good idea to cut the cable bill altogether. In addition, you should also look at other services, such as your car insurance bill, your electric bill, your water bill, and anything else that you may be paying for. This way, you can ensure you’re only paying for the services you actually use.
6. Unnecessary Purchases
Everyone has their gripe that they spend too much money on, and it’s better to kick this habit while you can. For instance, create a budget and find ways to cut back on things like eating out, not having a grocery budget, spending money on movies or other entertainment, or doing things that simply don’t make any financial sense.
If you truly want to make some extra cash, be sure to use the above information to get rid of the items that can help you get more green.
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