Earn More Than You Spend

10 Popular Ways To Make And Earn More Money

#1 Get a 2nd job.

Moonlight if you can handle it! Around 7 to 8 million Americans hold 2nd or 3rd jobs… but it can be a tough situation when you’re on the job for at least 12 hours everyday or sacrificing your weekends for the extra money.

#2 Work harder at your job and aim for a raise.

Well yes, we can always try to do better at our own jobs and work on nurturing and cultivating our career. Some jobs, especially those that are offered by some of the best companies in the nation, provide so much more than a basic salary. You can toss in various perks as well, such as raises, bonuses, matching 401Ks and even stock option plans in the mix. All the perks alone can easily add 25% to your base salary… which wouldn’t be too bad!

#3 Do a side business.

It’s probably better use of your time if you build on a side business than work on a side job. A side business is something you can cultivate independently and can easily last longer than any side job you decide to take on. Who knows — many part-time businesses have eventually grown to become the main source of work and income for many.

#4 Sell your used items (recycle and sell).

Cash in on your clutter! What a way to be kind to the environment and pocket some extra change at the same time. The advent of online auctions such as eBay and online classified sites such as Craigslist makes this all even more convenient! Especially if you’re not the type who enjoys spending your weekends holding garage sales!

#5 Invest smartly and make your money work for you.

Once you have some disposable income after retiring your consumer debts, then get your money to work for you by investing prudently. After some time, the compounding effect on your money makes it seem like you have an extra income source — actually, a good investing strategy allows you to develop a healthy, passive income stream.

#6 Invest in yourself.

Discover your strengths and talents and capitalize on them. And by keeping a positive attitude and doing something you love…well you know how that saying goes. This cliche holds true though, as we’ve seen many people who’ve done very well by doing the things they enjoy; with time being limited and life being short, as they say — doing what you believe you like and do best can be emotionally rewarding as well as financially rewarding, given some time.

#7 Become self-employed.

I mentioned earlier that having a side business helps to add to your income. But becoming fully self-employed and having control of your own work can be quite fruitful for people who have an adventurous and entrepreneurial bent. Some of the wealthiest people around are business owners.

#8 Freelance.

Become a contractor and get some side projects! Since quitting my day job, I’ve been focusing my energies on my small business, maintaining web sites and freelancing. All in all, I’m making around 60% of what I used to make, but I hope that in several years’ time, the work I do will hopefully be pulling in an income that will equal what I used to get from my day job.

#9 Seek money-making opportunities and go after them.

This can go beyond looking into investment or business opportunities and participating in them. You can also decide to take a bit of a risk by considering places that have higher demand for certain work, jobs or skills that you may possess. How about moving to a new location that has higher demand for the type of work you’d like to do? Be on the lookout for opportunities and see where those can take you.

#10 Get a higher paying job.

This used to be a strategy I employed during the earlier years of my career. I was quite driven about my career at one point and was quite fearless at pursuing various job opportunities during the tech boom in the 1990’s. Definitely a big motivator was the compensation offered during that time — during the dotcom period, companies would outbid each other over resources, particularly over employees and workers. During that era, job hopping was a lucrative way of making more money.As you can see, there’s no shortage of what you can do to be able to spend less than you earn (or earn more than you spend). Despite all these possibilities, I still hear a lot of excuses from people who feel it’s hard for them to hold on to money. I’m sorry for bringing in another cliche into this discussion, but I must say that “if there’s a will, there’s a way”. By being resourceful, determined, focused and disciplined, you’re on your way to reaping financial rewards down the road.