But saving money doesn’t necessarily mean selling, clearing or working extra hours. Simple changes to your day-to-day lifestyle can yield a remarkable saving. Taking a packed lunch to work, cycling rather than taking the bus, or moving your weekly shop to a more affordable supermarket can save as much as £30 to £40 a week. And who knows? Your budgetary innovations may open up new experiences and cost-effective habits that stick around beyond new year. Every saving will add up to something special. By combining these online and offline solutions, you can find real wiggle room in your budget for festive frivolity. The days are getting shorter, and our budgets are getting tighter. With Christmas on the horizon, the prospect of funding the festive season can feel like a little too much pressure on the purse strings. Don’t panic though – there are many simple, stress-free ways to make a little more money in time for yuletide. Relax and indulge your friends and family this year by building your very own Christmas bonus.
Playing the markets
There are any number of nifty solutions for making money online quickly. Many cannot be actioned overnight, and require a long-term strategy and effort. However, some sites allow you to sign up and start earning money almost straightaway. Sites such as Swagbucks allow you to ‘put cash back in your wallet’ by completing quick surveys when you search, shop, watch and browse online. There are loads of these sites out there, and there’s good money to be made – users often earn upwards of £200 per year. For the dos and don’ts for this form of money-making, check out this guide. Taking part in simple market research is also a healthy budget booster. Create a profile then accept ‘tasks’ on sites such as Streetspotr, Roamler and Field Agent. You will be expected to pop in to shops and businesses and carry out a basic request, such as taking a photograph or checking a price. You earn money for every mission you complete, which will add up sharpish if you can integrate the tasks into your daily routine. Many of these sites work with nationwide high street brands – so it could be delightfully simple for you to make a little extra money on your walk to work, or during your lunch hour. Signing up for a real-world research recruitment agency can also be very lucrative. They’ll book you into evening focus groups, perfect for fitting around your schedule.
Declutter for Christmas
While a spring clean may not be seasonally appropriate right now, it can still have a transformative effect on your home. Decluttering is proven to boost productivity and improve mood – and can lead to a little extra cash if you can sell those unloved shoes or superfluous home-wares online. Marketplaces such as eBay can seem tremendously old hat these days, but there is still a huge audience and money to be made if you have the time to promote and post your unwanted paraphernalia. If you’ve got clutter to conquer, selling online can be the fastest way to monetize your miscellany. Saving money for Christmas? Do you have any other top money-saving tips to bolster your budget? Let us know! Featured photo credit: Lights up the darkness / Susanne Nilsson via flickr.com
