Money Making Challenge - Update

I am so excited. I am just waiting on a payment to clear and I will be on step 16 of my money making challenge. I started back in March and haven't been focusing as much on it as I would like to, but I'm getting there, which is the main thing.

With 2 young kids at home, one in preschool and in speech therapy, time has been a little limited. Next year I will have both kids at school (one preschool, the other kindergarten) and I will be able to devote more of my time to this challenge which is exciting. In the meantime, I will do what I can.

I am trying not to focus on what to do once I get into the larger amounts, but it is hard. I like to dream big, but I know I need to focus on the now first. Step 16 is $819.20 – $1638.40.

I'm not sure how I will turn the $819.20 into $1638.40 yet. So far my main things have been to buy things to resell and my eBook, Blog To Book. I have also been earning a little interest here and there on my account while the money sits there until I decide what to do. I have 1 idea which will take a little time and effort, plus probably $100 to set up, another idea which I have already paid $5 for, but need to finish, and have been keeping my eyes and ears open for other opportunities. I am trying not to focus on what to do once I get into the larger amounts, but it is hard. I like to dream big, but I know I need to focus on the now first.

Are you doing the challenge?

Fast Money - 11 Ways To Get Cash Now

Sometimes, no matter how well we budget and plan, we find ourselves in situations where we need cash and we need it now. Before running off to get a loan or put everything on your card, here are some things you might want to try:

1.) Sell your stuff - Listing on eBay can take time, but uploading a picture on Facebook can see your item sold very quickly. There are specifica pages and groups you can join for your area to sell your items, or you can create an album on own page and just sell to friends/family.
2.) Babysit - If you have until tomorrow to get the money, ask around to see if someone needs a sitter today or tonight.
3.) Mow lawns/clean gutters - Ask your neighbours if you can mow their lawns today for whatever price you agree on. Clean out gutters and other gardening jobs are a good idea too.
4.) Get in a boarder - If you will be needing the money over a longer period, a boarder can be great. Provided you have the room, and put a contract in place, set some rules etc. I was once doing a clients hair when I was a hairdresser and mentioned I wanted to move into the area. She spun around so quick "Really? Because I am about to start looking for a room mate!" So I went to her house that day and moved in 2 days later. That was in 2004 and we are still friends today. (Although, I did get married and move out in 2005).
5.) Cleaning - If you have a spare hour or 2 you could clean someone's home. The rates are pretty good and you can listen to music while you do it.
6.) Ironing - If you work already, people could drop some baskets off that night and you do them, so they can pick them up the next day.
7.) Clean out a garage - If you have the time you could de-clutter someones garage for them. It can be a daunting task for a lot of people, but once everything is cleaned out, sorted and tidy, it is easier to know what to chuck and what they actually want to keep.
8.) Wash cars - You could go to their place and do it at their house. It is up to you if you just wash the outside, or do a full polish, clean interior etc.
9.) Rent out any space such as you garage, attic, driveway etc. It's not just a room to live people are looking for. People with boats and caravans need to store them somewhere, as do people who are moving and need to store some stuff. If you have space, you can rent it out.
10.) Quick Repairs - Things like fly screens/window screens are easy to fix, but most people just don't know how. Witha  bit of screen and 30 minutes you can replace screens for a decent hourly rate.
11.) Paint numbers on rubbish bins/driveways - This is a great way to make it easier for people to find the right house number and to stop rubbish bins going missing. Having numbers painted on driveways or gutters in front of homes make it easy to find. You can door knock an entire street or just do friends and family.

But how do you actually get the work? Talk to people and let them know you are looking for someone to move in/jobs to do today or by a certain day due to an unexpected emergency etc. While they might not need the work, they might know someone who does.
Let people know on Facebook, twitter and other social media. Contact them by email and tell them to tell their friends.

What have you done to get money fast?

Is free worth it?

I get a lot of free stuff both from blogging and from just random samples/prizes/free gift with purchase etc. In fact this year I have been tracking all the free stuff I get at FreebieYear and I have been surprised at just how much free stuff comes my way.
But is it worth it?
Sometimes I have to fill out forms; sometimes I have to wait in line at a counter; sometimes I spend an hour entering blog giveaways, then only win 1 prize worth $50.
Basically, while I do get a lot of free stuff, it is not 100% free. I use my time to enter, give out my name and email to enter most things as well (I actually have an email account specifically for this) and sometimes get lucky. Yes, I have got a lot of stuff, but this week when I got back from Canberra, I felt bogged down by it all.
Getting it was fun, but a lot of it is now sitting there. Some has been used, some given away, but some came and was not what I expected, so it sits.
Now, it is taking me more time to get rid of it.
Some free stuff is worth it, and I have always been pretty selective with what I get/enter, as I only want what I will use. But I am going to be even more selective now.
What do you think, are freebies good or not?

Living in the now

Finding the balance between living life/living in the now and saving for the future can be hard. I know many people feel like they are just scraping by from week to week and will never get to 'live their life' or cross things off their bucket list.

Earlier this year I made the decision to get 5 things marked off my bucket list - "I am going to do surfing, see whales in the wild, shoot a gun, ride a horse and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef this year!"
I have the vouchers for surfing, I know where and when to shoot a gun (there is a place near me that has an open day each month, thanks to a reader for letting me know). I've selected the whale tour, but am yet to pay. I know where to ride a horse and the Great Barrier Reef, well that one has changed. I am now going to the UK for a conference so am going to see Stonehenge instead, along with Buckingham Palace, Big Ben etc. So I will be doing more than 5 things this year.


The big difference between those who do things, get things marked off their bucket list and those who don't, is those who do, decide to do it, make a plan and DO IT!


Finances can hold us back, but there are ways around that.
1.) Set up a bucket list account - put aside money specifically for doing those things you have always wanted to do. Even if you only start with $5 a week, it's a start.
2.) Find money in the street etc. Any money you find can go in your bucket list fund.
3.) Start making more money - I have a variety of ways to make money here and have written a book 365 Ways To Make Money which not only gives you ideas, but how to get started, advertise etc.
4.) Enter competitions - there are always competitions for holidays and experiences so start entering.
5.) Plan it - if you know what you want to do, where you want to go etc. you can start planning to get an idea of how much you need. Once you know this it is easier to set a goal and start saving towards it.
6.) Check for discounts - there are numerous sites who have daily specials for travel and experiences. Seek them out, sign up to their emails so you will know when something you want to do comes up for sale.


The most important thing is to decide to do. Set your goal, start planning and do it! Even doing 1 thing a year will see you mark things off and feel like you are living in the now, not just pay check to pay check.