Hi GA Community....

It has come to my attention that my current income just doesn't cover
all my expenses :(

I am employed in a F/T government job ( good salay and benefits ) but
lately, my finances seem to have taken a nose dive.....

I think I may have taken too many trips in the past few years and just
over used my credit cards ....

Because I'm not smart enough to be a GAR, what other methods of making
some of extra $$$ could I peruse???

I also don't have any real talent, so I have nothing I could sell as a sideline...

Sorry for the low price..but yikes my card is almost maxed.

Steph53

One word for you Steph: EBAY !

But I have nothing to sell, Cynthia....

This e-book looks promising. It costs $39.95 though, but perhaps
someone can buy it for you as a gift!
    
http://www.carollook.com/ebookinfo/

Translating

Create a website then use adsense and affiliate programs.

Steph53 - try going to garage sales, thrift shops, pawn shops etc.
picking stuff up cheap and reselling it on eBay.  Due to the number of
people doing this it's probably not as lucrative as it once was, but
the opportunity should still exist.  And there are quite a large
number of people on eBay with more money than sense, so you could do
quite well ;).

Become an agent for a great author!

Incidentally, I went up to Kew yesterday and I saw this amazingly
attractive blonde on the platform of my local station: she was tall
and slim; VERY smartly dressed in a business outfit; and we were
waiting for the same train.

Naturally, we spoke and she had a distinctly North American accent.
She turned out to be a gal from Toronto who was now a near neighbour.

My heart skipped a beat ...

But no she wasn't called Stephanie!

Pity ...

I had already prepared a Comment to present to Cyndy on amazing coincidences. 

Bryan

Oftentimes it is easier to cut expenses than increase income. Slash away, Steph!

"But I have nothing to sell, Cynthia...."

Yes you have ..  sell your computer on eBay,,,,,,,, then give up all
those subscriptions


Just a simple thort

Kemlo

I like Kemlo's thought of slashing expenses.  I bet you could be out
of credit card debt in 18 months with some discipline.  Here are some
ideas:

1) Sell your car and buy a thrifty used one.  I know I know, everyone
says you lose alot of money when you sell your car due to
depreciation...  but in reality you have already lost that money by
buying the car.  Look at your best option from here and see if buying
a small, used car will save you thousands a year on depreciation, gas,
interest...

2) Eat cheap.  When I was getting out of debt (my credit cards peaked
out at $22,000), I ate pasta almost every night.  It's a cheap, easy
$.75 meal.  I know not everyone has the pallet for pure pasta all the
time, but there are several cheap, moderately healthy meals out there.
 Think more rice/beans and less steak/potatoes.  AND don't eat out!

3) Stop buying things.  Yes, this includes any more trips, clothes,
shoes, purses, manicures...  Yeah, there are things you need to spend
money on, but think every time before you buy; "Do I need this?  Is
this worth the extra pain of worrying about debt?  Is this worth as
much as I'm really paying for it (purchase price plus many months of
high credit card interest)?"

4) Reduce utility costs.  Downgrade or cancel your cable service. 
Eliminate all perks on your cell phone service.  Turn the termperature
up a couple degrees in your house (summer of course... and down in the
winter).  Turn off lights when you're not in the room.

You have a full time govt job so I can't imagine that you don't make
enough to both live on and pay off debt with if you're willing to
sacrifice just a little for a short time.
The alternative... working a second job... is doable, but not worth
nearly as much as you might think.  Let's say you make $10/hour 15
hours a week.  That is $600/month.  This will of course be taxed at
your maginal tax rate so you'll take a smaller percentage of this home
than you do of your normal pay.
7% SSI/medicare
~6% State
~25% Federal
After taxes you will have about $400 left.  But then you have other
expenses... You're more likely to eat out between jobs, and for lunch
since you'll be more tired in the mornings.  If you spend an extra $5
on food 20 days a month then you're down to $300.  Then you'll have to
pay for extra gas going to/from work.  Now you're down to $250. 
Perhaps more dry cleaning or buying clothes for work?  How much will
you really be taking home from your 2nd job.  And how many hours will
it really cost you once you factor in commuting?
I'm guessing the $10/hour job will quickly be reduced to $2.50/hour
and that is just a waste of time.

I wish you the best in getting out of debt!!  Life is certainly more
enjoyable and less stressful when money isn't a big issue.

Ooops, that was Mark's idea to slash expenses...  Sorry Mark/Kemlo!

Steph: 

You can open a free blog on Blogger.com (for example, about GA! check
this one out: http://googleanswersresearcher.blogspot.com/ ); then,
use their option of adding AdWords to your blog. Even if it wouldn't
add much to your income, it would add something. You can open as many
blogs as you'd like, about various issues; and naturally, you can also
do that with a webpage. You don't need any know any HTML - they have
all the tools there!

Jack .... 

QUOTE
Turn the termperature up a couple degrees in your house (summer of
course... and down in the winter).
UMQUOTE

I've now turned the termperature up, as you advised ... 

And am I hot?

But if it saves money, I'm all for it!

Will I save even more money by turning the termperature up even more?

Please explain the science, as I am just an ignorant limey.

Thanks!

Bryan
With sweat a-puvvering down his face.

humoring... or perhaps educating Probo:

People get accostomed to their surroundings fairly easily.  Long
before the days of air conditioning and electric heating, strange
breeds of humans lived all over the world including Alaska, Brazil,
Siberia and Saudi Arabia.  These crazy people of historic times
managed to survive and even thrive through the harsh conditions of
their climate.  Sure there are times when they wish the temperature
was different, but there is no way they would have prefered that their
house remain at a constant 72 degrees.
In our climate (the not so extreme cases of N America I assume for
most of us), a reasonable indoors temperature in the summer is 78
degrees (it will still feel cool compared to the 90 degrees outside,
and you will become accostomed to it fairly quickly) and in the winter
68 degrees (still very warm compared to the 45 degrees outside).
"Adjusting your thermostat can bring substantial savings. During the
winter, lowering your thermostat from 72 degrees to 68 degrees can
decrease your heating costs by up to 15%. During the summer, raising
your thermostat from 72 degrees to 78 degrees can decrease cooling
costs by up to 18 percent."
http://www.aps.com/aps_services/residential/waystosave/ResWaystoSave_84.html

Saving 15% on a rather pricey electric or gas bill is quite a good
deal.  And this can be done without much, if any discomfort.

Well, Jack, I don't have Air Conditioning (not even in my car)!

I live in the UK.

I wouldn't know whether Steph, who lives in Toronto, has it or not.

(I keep hoping for an invite but, so far, without any luck.)

In the summer, I just turn off the Central Heating; open wide all the
doors & windows; and (if necessary) switch on a fan.

Luckily, I live inches from the English Channel so lots of balmy
breezes make even the hottest day DELIGHTFUL.

Now, I know where you are coming from, I've turned off the Central
Heating and I feel so much better already - even though, by your
reckoning, it's costing me money ...

But that's life!

Bryan
Living extravagantly (again) and REVELLING in it

Steph,

There's a lot of great ideas here. Start thinking about how you can
make one of them work, and kick to the curb all thoughts about why
ideas "won't work" and find reasons why they *will* work.

Attitude is of paramount importance. 

It matters not that *you* have nothing to sell, FIND something! You
have all the tools it takes to earn extra income at the end of your
arms and between your neck and the top of your head!

Search GA about ebay, there's been tons of answers, great ones, about
how to start out on ebay. It's easy, you can do it from where you are
sitting right now, and you have all of _us_ to help you get it going!

Thanks all for your many great ideas!!!

This reality of being in bad debt really bites :(

For Jack_of_few_trades...

You gave many good cut-back ideas, but I do drive a 13 yr old car ( It
still runs great ), I have no air condioner, cable TV or cell phone :(

Steph53

Oh, and Bryan....

I'm nowhere near being tall and don't dress in business suits...

But yes, it's nice to be thought of!!!!

Steph53

I'm impressed by your savy ways Steph!  So many people (even with
financial difficulties) get pulled into the luxuries of life under the
impression that they are necessities.

If you have at least 2 hours per day to be online working u can try
this site... its free to join and you can make some extra here it is
the site www.mylotsite.com
Cheers :)