Do you have a large bill due? Have you figured out how you’ll pay for Christmas? Are you trying to build an emergency fund? I bet you could use $1000 right about NOW.
$1000 is a lot of money, but yet, it’s not that hard to find–you just have to know where to look.
In 2013, I participated in The Nester’s 31 Days event and my challenge was to find $1000. Mondays thru Saturdays in October, I offered ideas to help you find $1000 too. And on Sundays, we met here to catch our breath and let everyone know how we were finding our cash.
To be honest, I think I was delirious when I convinced myself to take on this challenge. I’ve never written every single day before, but I laid out my ideas on a calendar the last week of September, reviewed them with my husband to get his feedback, and then I just dove into October. There were 5 days that I just couldn’t get a post up due to my in real life busyness. The month is over and now I can get back to some other topics.
How we found $1000 in 31 Days?
If you followed along, it was certainly possible for you to find a full $1000 from all of my ideas. Most of my tips were things that I have actually done in the past–but unfortunately that money didn’t flow in October–like the $150 when I cashed in some old gold jewelry or the $200 my husband earned from teaching private swimming lessons or the $150 we made at our yard sale this past summer or the $55 we saved per month when we cancelled cable. Right there is $555.
In the month of October we found almost $600.
- $250 Bank of America cash rewards
- $80 from the sale of the Wii
- $50 returns
- $57 from cashing in loose change.
- $55 from our yard sale.
- $75 from reducing our spending and declaring October a “needs” only month.
- $25 from our lower electric bill due to our Low Heat Challenge.
October was a success in many ways. We got rid of clutter by selling some stuff and returning unused purchases, we were able to reduce our spending by $100 during the month by being more deliberate with our money, and I met some new blogging friends who were also participating in the challenge. Not too bad!
So how did you do? Were you able to find $1000? Did you follow some of my tips to reach your goal? I would LOVE to hear about your success in October, so please let us know in the comments.
The 31 Days Recap:
- Day 1: Make October a “Needs” Only Month
- Day 2: Have a Yard Sale
- Day 3: Sell Your Big Stuff on Craigslist
- Day 4: Find a Seasonal Part-Time Retail Job
- Day 5: Return Unused Purchases
- Day 6: Found Cash Update
- Day 7: Make Money from Your Skills
- Day 8: Sell Your Unused Video Games
- Day 9: Plan a Low Heat Challenge
- Day 10: Sell Your Gold Jewelry for Cash
- Day 11: Cancel Your Cable TV
- Day 12: How to Get a FREE Gym Membership
- Day 13: Update #2
- Day 14: Reduce Your Grocery Spending without Sacrificing Quality
- Day 15: Skip the AM Drive-Thru and Eat Breakfast at Home
- Day 16: Shop Thrift or Consignment Stores
- Day 17: Find FREE or Low Cost Family Entertainment
- Day 18: I had a yard sale and didn’t have much time to get online.
- Day 19: I was out of town and offline.
- Day 20: I ran a half marathon and offline
- Day 21: Playing catch up from being out of town for 2 days. Loads of laundry to do.
- Day 22: FINALLY…a new post: Do-It-Yourself and SAVE!
- Day 23: Brown-Bag Your Lunch & SAVE!
- Day 24: Cash In Your Loose Change
- Day 25: Rethink Your Christmas Spending
- Day 26: crazy day spent offline.
- Day 27: Update #3 How much we found so far.
- Day 28: Are You Paying Too Much?
- Day 29: Eat Dinner at Home & SAVE!
- Day 30: Increase Your Income
Check out my 31 Days to Find $1000 Pinterest board where I’ll be updating daily.
I love this challenge and will adopt it this month..
I might even blog about it!!
Let’s see! !
Visiting from #SitsSharefest
Keep it Touched,
KG
http://www.kgstyleblogs.com
KG recently posted…Happy Halloween Friends!
Thanks for sharing! Stopping by from #SITSsharefest and I liked your blog. Keep up the good work. I’ll try to stop by more often 🙂
Wendy @ Wensend recently posted…MONTHLY WRAP-UP | October 2013
This is such a great list. I especially love cashing in loose change and yard sales. People may be surprised by how much money they get from both. Thanks for sharing this list and linking up to Thrifty Thursday.
Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less recently posted…DiY Liquid Hand Soap {Handmade Holidays}
Great idea! We have been on a reducing, reusing, require only mode for the last couple of years. It is very liberating not to spend any time in the malls! Thanks for the great ideas.
Wendy Bottrell recently posted…Drink Water Daily – How To Be Healthy Living Tips
Hi Wendy! Liberating is a perfect description. I had to go to the mall over the holidays to pick up a couple of gift cards and if I don’t have to go back until this December, I will be perfectly happy with that. Thanks for stopping by.
Great ideas! It’s always nice to find ways to save/keep more of your money. Excited to see more of your ideas!
Kim recently posted…Perfect Wheat Bread
Thanks for stopping by, Kim! And for the kind words.
I love this! Thanks for all of the great reading material, Kristia!
Heather, You’re welcome!
Excellent information. I just discovered your blog. Great ideas!Happy New Year!
Shanna recently posted…Where Does the Time Go?
Welcome, Shanna! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
I just love your newsletter! It is the very best one that I have ever seen on saving money! Keep them coming! Nancy in Virginia
Thanks fort the kind words, Nancy! Happy New Year!