Recession-Proof Yourself: Five-Part Series

Part 5: Top Frugal Debt Reduction Ideas
Here are eight frugal ideas to boost your debt reduction efforts:

1. Have a Yard Sale

Extra junk around the house is money just waiting to be liquefied. Round up all of your old clothes, toys, housewares, and furniture, and have a yard sale. Then put the proceeds towards your debt of choice. Have valuable items to sell? Consider listing them on Ebay or in the classified section of your local newspaper.

2. Save Your Change

Do you have a change jar? If so, it's time to raid it. Roll all of your coins, and then make an extra debt payment equal to the amount that you've rolled. Repeat the process every time your jar is full.

3. Coupons

Couponing is a great way to save money on the things that you need, but it can also be a great way to boost your debt repayment efforts. Challenge yourself to use as many coupons as you can when you grocery shop, and then reward your efforts by putting the money saved towards your debt.

4. Hire Yourself

Do you hire someone to cut your grass or clean your house? If so, it may be time to hire yourself for the job. Tackle a couple of the projects that you'd normally hire someone else to do, and then "pay yourself" by applying the savings towards your debt.

5. Share Your Opinions

Got Opinions? Turn them into a paycheck by signing up for paid online surveys. You can complete as many or as few as you have time for, and then put the money towards an early debt send-off. For a list of the most reputable survey companies, refer to SurveyPolice.

6. Turn Cash Gifts into Payments

Have a relative that likes to send you money as a gift? Then pass that gift on to Visa, and watch your account balance go down.

7. Cash in on a Talent

Hobbies are usually a source of spending, but that doesn't have to be the case. Make a list of all of the things that you are good at, and then brainstorm ways to turn them into a source of income. Could you teach knitting classes? Hire yourself out as a muralist? Become a part-time landscaper? Find a way to market your skill or skills, and then turn your profits into payments.

8. Bank Your Bonuses

We all benefit from the occasional windfall, whether it's a work bonus, a tax return or something else entirely. Vow to turn your bonus money into bonus debt repayments, and fear those credit card statements a little less.

MICHELLE

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