Nowadays, you can’t turn on the TV without hearing about the plunging economy, government bailouts, drop in consumer confidence and the economic recession. With all this worrying talk it’s hard for consumers to get excited about the upcoming holiday shopping season. Between Halloween candy and costumes, the Thanksgiving feast and Christmas and Chanukah gifts, many families are concerned about making all their holiday purchases within a shrinking budget.

(Photo: WPA: unemployed shown at Volunteers of America Soup Kitchen: Washington, D.C. (Circa 1936); from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.) Read the rest »

During economic slowdowns, everyone is looking for new and immediate ways to save money. Whether it’s clipping coupons, buying sale items or cutting out extra purchases all together, there are many ways families can curb their spending. But what about MAKING some extra money in a time of need?

There are several ways to make additional money from the comfort of your own home simply by doing a little research on the Internet to find programs that give you cash for your time. Many of these are affiliate marketing programs and are a great way to make some extra money while giving you the flexibility to regulate how much or little you do. You can find time for these programs when the baby is down for nap, when the kids are at after-school activities or an hour each night after the kids have gone to sleep. This is a great way to make some extra money that will help cover the rising price of food, gas and everything else these days. Read the rest »

Summer is practically over and it’s back to school for the kids. Parents are you dreading that trip to the overcrowded stores where you can’t even get a cart down the aisle? Or what about sitting in traffic and wasting precious gas? Your bank account has already been stretched this summer due to the record high gas prices and the lack of that “disposable income.” Purchasing new supplies and new clothes for the kids isn’t going to relieve much of that pressure, is it? Read the rest »