Work Smarter, Not Harder: Increase Your Income Without Adding More Hours

We all want to know the secret to getting ahead with our finances without having to expend too much additional energy in the process. We are all working hard already, but sometimes it is still difficult to get ahead. If you are looking for more “free money,” there are definitely ways to make it happen. There are a few simple steps that you can take that will help you toward your financial goals; there are also more involved processes that require extra effort, but they can offer fun ways to make extra money beyond your normal nine-to-five job. Here are five ways to increase your income with minimal effort on your part:

1) Ask for a raise - This may sound like a no-brainer, but there are many people who work hard at their job and deserve a raise who simply haven’t gotten around to asking for one. If you are doing good work and adding value to your company, and it has been an extended amount of time since your last raise, then it is time to approach the person in charge of authorizing that raise. Standing up for what you deserve is one of the easiest ways to make “free money” without putting in overtime at the office.

2) Make your hobby profitable - If you have a hobby that you love and spend your free time pursuing, then you may already have one of the easiest ways to make “free money” in your free time. With the growing world of e-commerce, if you have a hobby such as knitting or creating handmade crafts, you can sell your creations on sites like Ebay and Etsy. Your virtual store can help you generate extra income simply by doing what you already do. This type of commerce extends beyond selling goods online. For instance, if you are an avid hiker, you can start leading weekly hikes and charging a small fee. If you have a passion for something that is marketable, then you are already on your way to creating new opportunities for income!

3) Clean out and clean up - Have you accumulated a lot of “stuff” throughout the years? Most of us are pack rats to some extent, and simply cleaning out our closets and attics can yield positive financial results. By holding a yard sale, tag sale or even an online auction on Ebay, you can make your “junk” someone else’s “treasure” – and have a bit of extra money to show for it.

4) Claim what is yours - You may be surprised to find that there could already be extra money that is being held in your name by the government – money that you are completely unaware of. If you have an old bank account that you forgot about, you’ve changed jobs and never received your last check from your former employer, or you were left an inheritance that you never received, then it is likely that the government is holding that money in your name. These are just a few examples of how money can be lost and then found several years down the road. It only takes a moment to search for unclaimed money online, and you never know what you may find.

5) Make your credit cards work for you - Be strategic with how you charge your purchases. If you are going to use credit cards, you need to make sure you are using a card that will “pay you back” in some way. Whether it is through cash back or points toward a vacation, you should make sure that the credit card you’re using provides you with some benefits. This way, your purchases can add up to free money for you and your family, simply by charging what you already buy to your credit card.

Making simple adjustments and expanding upon what you already love – or have – can bring you “free” money throughout the year. Never miss an opportunity to work smarter, rather than harder!