Comments on: Create your own economic stimulus check

By: 33th Money Hacks Carnival Oktober Fest Edition | Fix My Personal Finance - Personal Finance Advice - Money Management Advice

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:11:07 +0000

[...] Freedman presents I share my bedroom with a freezer posted at Smart Spending. glblguy presents Economic Stimulus Check posted at Gather Little by Little. PT presents People Are Saving For? posted at Prime Time Money. [...]

By: Frugal Friday Weekly Roundup | myfinancialrecovery.net

Frugal Friday Weekly Roundup | myfinancialrecovery.net — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:42:32 +0000

[...] Gather Little By Little offers up some ideas to create your own economic stimulus check. [...]

By: Philip Brewer

Philip Brewer — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:27:13 +0000

As an alternative, I’d suggest that when the money economy is what’s most stressed, that you try to place a fraction of the support for your household outside the money economy.

- Pick a few things that you current pay to have done and (instead of getting a second job) come up with a way to do them yourself. Much of what you lose in efficiency you make back in taxes (because you have to pay taxes on your wages, and whoever you pay to do the work has to pay taxes as well).

- It’s not a great time to be starting a garden (at least in the northern hemisphere)–but your neighbor’s late-season crops are probably peaking right about now, so there’s stuff to be had for barter (or even for free). Plan a garden for next year.

- Garden crops are by no means the only thing that can be bartered for. Your stuff and labor can be exchanged for other people’s stuff and labor.

- If you have a hobby in which you make something (knitting, pottery, etc.), use it to avoid spending money. Make things your own household can use. Make things that you can give as gifts (rather than having to buy gifts).

It won’t stimulate the economy much, but things like this can protect your own household from purely financial problems–which are just the sort we’re facing now.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:08:15 +0000

Amen, brother! I have nothing else to add really. Most people don’t want to work for extra money–they want it handed to them. My family was very thankful for the stimulus check–but I certainly do not expect more.

By: My Daily Dollars

My Daily Dollars — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:42:36 +0000

I agree. . .this is a great list. I know from experience that even a little step like doing a few surveys can help motivate you to look for more ways to get extra income!

By: Roshawn @ Watson Inc

Roshawn @ Watson Inc — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:46:47 +0000

I agree with Frugal Dad in that discipline often seems to be a lost art nowadays. Additionally, some of these require some additional baseline knowledge. Still, I think this list represents some of the many ways to earn some extra cash. Who knows, maybe someone’s small business will really take off!

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:34:13 +0000

This is a good idea, but one that requires discipline that many Americans don’t have. Why bust your rear end building up a part time business, or go through the pain of cutting expenses when we can simply wait for another check from “the government.” I wish people would take more control of their own destiny, and your ideas would certainly be a step in that direction.