Finding Extra Money

It is that time of year when we all start to feel kind of bummed out because the bills are coming in from Christmas spending.  Many of us couldn't afford to buy gifts in the first place, so now figuring out how to pay for what was purchased is a pain.  It might be time to think of ways to bring in more money.

The first way many Americans think of bringing in more cash is by filing taxes.  If you are one of those lucky people that is getting a lot back from taxes, good for you.  If you are somebody that is going to have to pay your taxes, well now, you have a whole new problem.  So on to plan B.

For many of us, finding a new job that pays better than our current job is not even an option.  I've been looking for a better paying job for about a year now and still can't find one.  I am someone with a lot of experience and a college degree, and still no luck.  The best advice I can give is finding a second job.  It can be a real drag, but it can be done.

Luckily, due to tax season and refunds, many people start spending money again in the spring.  This means stores are willing to hire people.  I suggest taking a second job at the mall or at a store if possible.  You might not think you have the extra time to do it, but since you are so broke (I mean, you are reading this blog, aren't you?) you probably don't have the money to go out and do anything fun.  So I would suggest giving a second job a try, at least for a little while.

You also do not have to necessarily work outside of your home for a second a job.  Did you know you can make money blogging, or answering questions, or writing articles?  It is possible!  You won't get rich quick, but you can sign up for Google Adsense or Amazon Affiliates and start making money.  There are several sites like Blogger, HubPages, and WebAnswers that will allow you to earn money in your spare time if you enjoy writing.

Last but not least, don't give up on trying to make money just by looking around your home.  Is there an old couch you are not using?  Are you never going to drag out that old computer monitor to use again at your house?  What about making crafts and selling them?  There are plenty of items you can probably sell right now.  The weather is getting warmer and you can think about a yard sale.  You can also sell at a craft fair.  Even if you don't feel like doing any of that, you can still post items on Craigslist.  So don't give up hope!

There are ways to pull in extra money and we can sure all need it right now.  And never forget, always look for sales and coupons to help save extra cash at the grocery stores!  Every penny adds up!

Target Electronic Deals for December 11 - 17, 2011

Ah, Christmas is coming!  You can smell the lovely scents of gingerbread, pine, and desperation in the air.  Retailers are desperate to get your business.  Shoppers are desperate to save money.  Let the sales begin!

Although it seems as if Walmart was bringing in the most customers and desperation this holiday season with their Black Friday sales, never count Target out of the competition.  Target is going to have some amazing sales on electronics this week.

One incredible deal I would love to take advantage of if I were allowed to spend money on myself, is a Philips portable DVD player for just $42.  I have several items in my home from Philips and they are a great brand.  The DVD player regularly sells for $85.99, so $42 is an amazing deal.  Just yesterday, my electric was out for hours.  I sure wished I had a portable DVD player that ran on batteries yesterday!

Another super deal I wish I could have is a Compaq laptop for $233!  The regular price is $379.99, so once again, this is an incredible deal.  It even has a DVD burner!  Oh, how I want that laptop!  Target, why do you tempt me so?

So if you are in the market for a DVD player or laptop, looks like Target is the place to go this week.  For me, I will just sit and dream. 

Dollar Tree Has the Best Stocking Stuffers

For this Christmas, saving money is in style more than anything else.  Why pay a lot of Christmas gifts if you don't have to do so?  The best place to go this Christmas is the Dollar Tree.  Not only can you get some great generic gifts for co-workers, friends, and relatives, the Dollar Tree has the best deal on stocking stuffers.


You can choose from a large assortment of stocking stuffers at the Dollar Tree, such as:


Small boxes of chocolates
Candy canes
Thin mints
Small stuffed animals
Solar dancing penguins and snowmen
Crayons
Small books
Puzzle books
Puzzles
Coloring books
Toy cars
Baby items
Hair items
And much more!


The best part about everything on the list is it is all just one dollar per item!  I found myself picking up items and thinking, "This is really only a dollar?  That is amazing!"


Also, if you are interested in purchasing some low-budget decorations, the Dollar Tree is the place for you, too.  You can get garland, tinsel, mini tinsel trees, ornaments, etc.  There are also a number of different options on gift bags, wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and Christmas cards.  Everything you need to start your Christmas shopping off right is at the Dollar Tree.  I would highly recommend getting there early before all the good stuff gets sold out. 


Just remember, every item is just $1!  And more importantly, you don't even realize it yet, but you totally need a solar dancing snowman - trust me on this one!

For more information and recommendations, check out The Dollar Store is THE Store for Stocking Stuffers!

Best Electronic Black Friday Deals (I've Seen So Far)

For the last few days, stores have been going crazy posting their ads and a number of different sales papers have been included in newspapers.  Personally, I hate Black Friday and would prefer to never walk into a store during a Black Friday sale.  However, the deals are pretty good.  If you are a serious bargain shopper and every penny counts, Black Friday is going to be your day.  If you are looking for electronics this year, I've seen some pretty decent sales.

Walmart is really selling some great buys for Black Friday... you just have to get there at midnight or you are taking a chance they will run out.  I am most impressed with an HP laptop computer for $248 and a Philips 4GB MP3 player for $19.88.  Both of the items are excellent brands, and those are dirt cheap prices.  I personally have a Philips MP3 player just like it, but I would like to upgrade to more GB.  This is an excellent deal and I am honestly debating dealing with the torture of Black Friday to get one.  After, it even comes in a bright pink color!

A store I never get to usually shop at since it is not in the area is Kmart.  I do wish there was one nearby because they are also offering an outstanding electronics deal this Black Friday.  You can buy a Sylvania 7 inch netbook for just $79.99!  Now, I am no netbook expert, but I know a great price when I see one.  Even if it does not have all the awesome features so netbooks may offer, dude, it is basically 80 bucks.

An amazing deal HH Gregg is offering this Black Friday is a 32 inch Toshiba HDTV for basically $199.99.  Now that is pretty impressive!  It does look like you will have to mail in a $50 rebate to get that low price, but that is incredible for that brand and that size.  The ad states there will be a minimum of 50 per store.  However, something tells me you'd better be standing at the door at midnight for that one.

So to all of you that are willing to wake up at the crack of dawn, or just never go to sleep and hit the stores at midnight, some awesome electronics await you.  Happy shopping and good luck!

Christmas Shopping Time Even If You Don't Like It

The Christmas shopping season is coming whether you like it or not.  So why not just accept it and plan ahead of time? 

If you want to have some stress-free Christmas shopping this holiday season, it would be a good idea to plan ahead.  Always remember, you can save more money and stay within your budget if you remember to:

• Write down a list
• Write down a budget
• Scope out newspapers and sales papers for great deals
• Wait until some of the pre-Black Friday or Holiday Sales begin
• Plot your strategy accordingly

When all else fails, you can purchase small gifts and give gift cards with them.  You can also order a number of important items online so you don't have to be frustrated with real shopping.  Don't forget to check out Cyber Monday deals.  Many online retailers have great bargains and free shipping on Cyber Monday.  It never hurts to check out sites ahead of time before Monday even begins so you know which sites to visit on the big shopping day.

For more shopping tips, check out: Stress-Free Christmas Shopping Advice

The Baltimore Sun Weekend Flyers Nov. 5 - 6 2011

This weekend, everyone is starting to brace themselves for the Christmas shopping rush.  Considering how bad the economy is right now, many stores are doing whatever it takes to win over shoppers this Christmas.  Obviously, stores are going to have to use some desperate measures to bring in revenue.

One store that is not taking chances is Target.  Not only did Target include a sales paper, it also has a toy catalog or "wish book" included in the newspaper this weekend.  The book has nothing but toys.  Also, it features a number of coupons for many of the toys in the book.  The prices are good until Thanksgiving.  Who knows just how low those prices will go beyond that?

Bed Bath & Beyond went in a different direction and focused on all the Thanksgiving products one might need.  Their flyer includes a 20% off coupon.  There are some basic items for the home featured in the flyer; however, the focus is on cooking utensils, pots, pans, roasters, plates, and other items needed for a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

Still, there were the usual sales papers and coupons.  Nothing too out of the ordinary as far as coupons go.  Were the sales papers a little thicker this time?  You bet.  Are they going to get even thicker and offer more deals soon?  You know it.  Everyone is going to compete for customers this year.  The stores with the best bargains will surely win.

The Layaway Returns

Back by popular demand, many stores have brought back the layaway plan.  For those that have never used it before, you can put an item on layaway by paying a small amount for the product.  You can then come back and get the item later on when you have more money.  Many stores had stopped using the layaway system when the economy was doing better.  For this Christmas season, many stores understand the economy is still not so great and the layaway is back.

Kmart and Sears have still been offering the layaway plan for a while now.  Walmart is obviously not going to be outdone by either of those stores, so they are also offering a layaway option for the holiday season.  I also just found out Toys R Us is offering layaways this Christmas, too.

So if you were ever a fan of the layaway plan, now you know where to shop this holiday season: Kmart, Sears, Toys R Us, and Walmart.