What happens when saving money and budgeting isn’t enough?  Expenses can only be cut  so far and still live, pennies can only be pinched so far.  What to do when you have squeezed every drop from the paycheck?  Here are a few tips/tricks.

(1) Double check your withholding amounts!

Do you receive a huge refund every year during tax season?  Then, adjust your withholding – why give the government an interest free loan? For some people this won’t work as they are not getting their own money back, their refund is made up of EIC (Earned Income Credit); but you can ask to have the EIC advanced to you through your employer and included in your check.

(2) Get a part-time job from home!

Telecommuting is becoming more mainstream and at last count I knew of over 300 companies that hire at home workers.  Number #1 Rule – NEVER pay for a Job!  Number #2 Rule – Find someone who is experienced at finding the scams and get their opinion.

(3) Sell some clutter on Ebay, Craigslist, Garage Sale, or community sale!

(4) Challenge yourself to go a week without your FAV indulgence!

(5) Borrow instead of Buy

Swap clothes, shoes, purses, baby stuff, kitchen gadgets, recipes, movies, games, game systems; the list could go on forever.  Swap with your neighbors instead of buying or renting.

(6) Just Say NO!

Many times we worry about what other people will think when we don’t buy XYZ item.  Don’t worry about keeping up with the Joneses (no offense to those name Jones).

(7) Remember, Entertainment CAN be free!  It just takes a little work!

Do you have any tips or tricks that have saved your family?  Feel free to post them as a comment or send to me privately.  This is only a drop in the bucket of handy ways I have found to “Stretch a Dollar”.