The Frugal Free Gal

It is always amazing to see the talent and vision people possess. Women and mother’s in particular, as they seem to be taking the world  by storm as business owners and entrepreneurs these days. They tend to see potential in what others don’t, and then take something they like and turn it into a way to support themselves and their families. The whole process is quite fascinating, and might be something you have always wanted to do yourself. If you have a hobby or business idea you have always wanted to capitalize on, what seems to be stopping you? Starting your own hobby turned business adventure can be a great way to earn extra cash for your family while doing something you love. Below, you will find out how to turn your hobby into a business with just a few small steps.

Step One: Think small.
First, you want to think small. What talents do you have? Can you bake? Write? Paint? Have a way with children? Ask yourself how much you enjoy these tasks. Could you do them daily and no get tired of them? If the answer is yes, keep on reading!

Step Two: Identify the need.
The reality is, there is something you are good at that someone else is not. People are willing to pay for that. Whether it be cleaning a house or baking a cake, people are willing to pay others to do the things they can’t or don’t want to do. Decide what the need or demand would be for your talent.

Step Three: Say so long to fear.
Naturally the fear sets in next. We talk ourselves into thinking we are not good enough, or that we don’t have the start up funds, or that we will just table the idea for another time. Say so long to fear and write your ideas and goals down somewhere you can revisit them often.

Step Four: Execute your plan.
Do you like to bake? Start off by advertising your services for children’s birthday parties. Offer to do a friend’s party for free to get your name out there. Like to make jewelry? Invest $40 booth rent in a local show to promote yourself. Take custom orders and get your name out. List a piece on Etsy. it is only a .20 cent investment. Love to upcyle? Save old chairs from the curb, add a fresh coat of paint and a new cushion and viola! List it on Craigslist for sale.

Step Five: Make $1.00 at a time.
Make a dollar, then two, then twenty. Make one customer a happy camper, then two, then twelve. Learn to stretch your business dollar-get free business cards on the internet (they are everywhere!) and find local shops to consign a piece or two. Find one first customer, treat them like gold. The rest will follow. Learn to live off of very little, and save every dime you can. Then watch your small idea bloom. And the rest…well the rest just seems to fall into place!

If you could use a little extra spending or bill money each month, give this step by step plan a try. Your talents and hobbies can easily be tapped into and function as a business for you, a business where you are the boss and can earn a real income. It won’t always be easy, but when you are doing what you love, the ambition will always be there to make it possible.

Best of luck! Now get to it!

Are you ready to save money this year? Check out these 6 ways to go frugal and save money.

Get rid of your car.

We are proud to be owners of both of our vehicles. Several years ago we bought a used Saturn for $600 and we drove the car for a while! We ended up giving that car away once we started having kids, but now we are proud owners of two used mini-vans that we paid cash for totaling less than $10,000 total.

2. Take in a renter or a boarder. This is something we haven’t done, but there is extra space if someone needed to “live” here for a few weeks. A friend of mine also “rented” out her space once for my cat when I needed to be away for an extended period of time.

3. Downsize your home. I have mentioned this before. I prefer a smaller home. The less space you have in your home, the less you have to clean, organize, and furnish–saving lots of valuable time and money.

4. Change how you use credit cards. Thanks to the Dave Ramsey program, I no longer use credit cards.

5. Only use coupons or go generic. I use coupons for just about everything now. From grocery coupons to department store, craft stores, restaurant, oil changes, and using coupon codes online, these have been a HUGE money saver for me. Make sure you read my coupon tips by clicking on the tab at the top of my homepage.  If I can’t get name brand for cheaper than generic after coupons, I go generic, but with using coupons now, I almost always get the name brand item cheaper than the generic! Along with using coupons, we always score great military discounts on top of all of this!

Best Places to Find Online Coupons

6. Dump High-Tech Toys. I actually do use the library for checking out books. I even take advantage of the “lending library” here where I can check out toys for my daughter to play with! I also find all other toys at thrift stores, for as little as $1.00 or less! I rarely EVER buy toys full price. Just not worth it. One thing I WILL NOT cancel is my gym membership. Health is a priority and I LOVE my membership. We did get it at a discounted military rate so we barely pay anything for it as it is.

What areas have you been extremely frugal in?  

In this uncertain economy, many stay-at-home moms are saving big by adopting smarter shopping habits, stricter budgets, and eliminating unnecessary luxury items. Like these moms, you can make some small changes in your life in order to save more money. As financial expert, Suze Orman, suggests, “By taking care of yourself financially, you will truly be able to take care of those you love.” You can be a money-saving mama, more financially in control, and with a bigger budget for the things that matter most.

Coupons

You don’t have to become one of those coupon-clipping moms from the television, but you shouldn’t avoid clipping altogether. Some women treat coupons like they’re a full-time job. Others take one afternoon a week to clip the coupons they’re most likely to use.

Coupons are for more than groceries. You can find coupons for everything from brand name electronics to clothing. You may find a valuable drugstore promo code or travel savings. Check in your weekly newspaper and online for coupons. Sign up for email alerts from your favorite brands and you may find money-saving coupons are randomly emailed to you.

Related: Best Places to Find Online Printable Coupons

Kids Eat Free

Many websites offer free meals for kids, when the adults in a family order from the regular menu. Instead of paying full price for everyone, try to only eat at those restaurants that offer free meals for children.

Budget

A strict budget is essential when you’re living on a single income. Create weekly and monthly budgets, with areas for projected and actual spending. This shows you where you’ve saved and how much. If there’s a surplus of money, put it into your savings account for a future vacation or larger home payment.

You can visually see where funds are being allocated and how much spending money you have for the week. You may find that you’re overspending on unnecessary expenses and not enough on your mortgage and car loans. For instance, if your husband travels frequently and is consistently overspending when parking at Newark, it may be a good idea to invest in a monthly parking pass.

Related: How to Create a Budget That Really Works

Prepare Meals at Home

Student lunches typically cost around $3, for an average monthly spending of $60. This $60 could help pay a bill or add to savings, so why not pack your children’s lunch? If you’re already couponing for inexpensive groceries, than you have the low-cost items on hand to prepare meals at home.

If your kids prefer what’s being served at school, try and find out if you can mimic those recipes. Another great way to get kids on board is to allow them to pick out a lunch pail with their favorite characters depicted on it. Your husband should be a little easier to sway. He likely finds your homemade leftovers more appealing that what they’re serving in the office cafeteria.

Related: 5 Reasons You Need to Start Meal Planning Today

Trim the Fat

Easily the best way to add a couple hundred dollars to your monthly savings is getting rid of luxury items you don’t need. If you’re paying for a monthly cable television subscription, complete with subscription channels, you’re costing yourself upwards of $250 a month. You should consider downgrading or cancelling this service altogether.

How I Cut the Cable and Saved Almost $1,000 a Year

It’s important to not overspend on your credit cards either. Avoid luxury items, by keeping credit cards tucked away for emergencies only. Spend only what you can afford and then save the rest of your money. This is one of the best ways to build a savings and save your family some extra dough. Who knows? If you follow these tips, you may just find yourself relaxing on a beach for a quality family vacation soon.