Hope no one minds me bumping up this thread, but I've recently found a few ways to save money/earn more money that I'd like to add...
1. A co-worker asked if I wanted to go shopping after work, and I agreed more for the social aspect of it than for the shopping. We work in a medical laboratory network's call centre, so we hardly have any time to talk; we're always on the phones. I thought we would go to the mall and I could window-shop (clothes can be so pricey there) and maybe I'd buy some hot chocolate as a consolation prize.
Instead, she drove us to this huge factory outlet which had the same clothes I'd seen in Suzy Shier, Stitches and so on in the mall, except much cheaper. I like vests, so when a denim vest had gone on sale in the mall for $12 months ago, I'd bought it and thought it was a bargain. The same vest was in the factory outlet for $2.50.
I ended up buying three vests, three blouses, a scarf and a pair of shoes for just over $50 - all new, name-brand and in good condition. Early Christmas present for myself.
2. I happened to mention to my friend's brother that I used to write students' essays in the Middle East to earn extra money, and he said his fiancee needed someone to edit and proofread her papers. For the papers I've done this month, that should be about $55... which will cover the cost of the Christmas present.
This is something I'd love to do more often - use my writing skills and earn money for doing so.
3. I found a beauty college near my apartment where a shampoo, cut and style costs only $7.50. It's all done by students, but they're being graded, so they do a good job and take as much time as they need (there are always more students than customers). I tip the student $2, so I can get my hair done for less than $10.
