Here is my interview with financial expert Jean Chatzky.

I’m excited to share my recorded conversation with Jean Chatzky. She is the financial editor of the Today Show. She has a NEW  course called Money School. In the recorded interview, you will get tips on how you can make money doing something similar.

Jean shares how she made her own classes to teach online and gives pointers on how you can do the same. She also shares other tidbits and good ways to make money.

Before you listen, I’d like you to figure out 2 things:

1. How do you want to make extra money (ideally what would you like to be paid to do)?

2. What is holding you back from doing it?

Then visualize yourself having FIXED THE PROBLEM.

Why are you making me do this?

Well, when you are finished listening, you’ll gain insight about how you can plan your side hustle or money making opportunity.

Listen to the interview here.

If you enjoyed this, you should share it. That’s good money karma, right?

I use the Ditch 5 Daily Rule. Photo via Flickr.

Follow me on Pinterest here.

When I went back to work full-time, I had to streamline my cleaning routine.

I found that I couldn’t stay on top of my cluttered house and would often waste money buying duplicates of items I already had.

Instead of setting up big blocks of time, I decided to squeeze in a few minutes here and there every day. This gives me more free time and helps me save money.

Here’s how I did it.

Be a Clutter-Busting Fiend and Get Your House Tidy in Minutes

Since I have a super busy schedule, I declutter as I go. It’s similar to cleaning as you go but I get rid of  at least 5 items daily. I call it the Ditch Five Daily Rule ™. This is a rule I follow to purposely ditch items on a regular basis. It gives me a number to shoot for. This way I never have to set aside precious weekend time to do this.

Here’s exactly how it works:

1. Try to ditch at 5 items per day. (I’m currently challenging myself to 7 right now but I aim for at LEAST 5).

2. I actively look for items to get rid of during my morning routine. While in the bathroom, I look for an empty shampoo bottle, expired makeup, or a razor that needs to go.

3. I look for other items while preparing breakfast. If I find an empty cereal box or something past it’s prime, I ditch it daily.

Most of us do this anyway but if you purposely stick to the Ditch Five Daily Rule, by the end of the week you will get rid of 25 items with little effort.

I left for work at 6:30 A.M. yesterday but I managed to  ditch these items before I left for work.

Here’s how I did:

I found 3 items out of the gate.

While in bathroom:

1. Empty shampoo bottle

2. Expired eyeliner

3. little perfume bottles I will never use.

While in kitchen, I found this after eating breakfast:

4. Empty vitamin bottle

While in bedroom:

5. I found a bracelet I never wear. I got it as a gift. It’s not my style.

Since I had to leave, I ditch two more items from my purse to meet my current goal of seven.

6 & 7. I recycled a magazine on my way out and ditched some expired coupons from my purse.

I was able to do this within minutes. It doesn’t disrupt my schedule at all.  I am aware of what we have now so we don’t buy duplicates of items we already have. I also make a list of what we have to purchase weekly.

If you liked this free post, you should share it. That’s a fair trade, right? Also, tell me if this idea is helpful to you below.

Other projects I have worked on recently:

Rake What Your Momma Gave Ya Home Maintenance Challenge

DIY Organization: Secret for Organizing Tiny Pieces of Kids’ Stuff for a Dollar

Tidy Up the Laundry Room in Minutes for 30 Dollars

Cleaning Games: Dirty Little Secret for Cleaning Your Sink on the Cheap

Cure Sink Clutter and Cut Cleaning Time in Half for Free

Free Help: Vacuuming Confetti

Declutter in Minutes with this Trick Plus Motivation from REAL SIMPLE Editor-in-Chief

How to Clean Picture Windows on the Cheap

 

The chance to get quality education in any field is a dream for most, but rising costs are making such a dreams less and less attainable.

Luckily, prospective college students aren’t alone in their quests to find affordable college experiences.

Scholarships, community colleges and even high school classes can help make college less expensive.

Don’t give up on your dreams if you can’t afford college. These cost-cutting programs will help you get the education you’ve always wanted without breaking the bank.

AP Courses

High school students can earn college credit before stepping foot on a university campus. College Board Advance Placement (AP) courses combine high school classes with college material, culminating with a test that can transfer into college credit. From biology to history to foreign languages, students can knock out lower level college courses while completing high school. AP tests cost $89 and can be administered by qualified high school teachers. Students can check College Board AP scores online or receive results by mail, and College Board will send scores of 3 or above (1-5 scale) to students’ desired destinations.

Scholarships

Colleges generally seek a diverse student body to provide a well-rounded experience, and they are willing to pay students with eclectic backgrounds to attend their schools. Finaid.org lists award programs for minority students from Bill Gates, The Consortium, The Hearst Foundation and The Graduate Education for Minorities center, along with databases that list even more opportunities. Couple those with merit-based scholarships based on grades, test scores and contests, and international students have plenty of opportunities to get a lift.

Apply for more scholarships than you need, highlight your background and achievements when applying and get the application in on time.

Loans

There’s only so much free money to go around, but students with big dreams and small budgets aren’t sentenced to a life without education. Student loans can cover college expenses until graduation, upon which lenders will require steady payments with some interest. International students that have citizenship can apply for federal aid at Fafsa.ed.gov. After filling out a FAFSA form, students receive grant and loan offers through the U.S. government. Non-citizens can visit Salliemae.com for private student loan options.

Students loans offer short-term convenience, but failure to repay these loans has long-term consequences. According to Projectstudentdebt.org, 2011 graduates who took out student loans had an average of $26,600 in debt. If these students find employment, they will be able to pay their debt down, but a still-shaky economy has left some students with high payments and no income. Loans aren’t the best way to pay for college, but when used responsibly, they can open paths to success.

Community College

Students that want a college degree but don’t want the piles of debt that go with it can get started at community colleges. According to Usnews.com, tuition at a community college costs less than $3,000 per year on average. In-state tuition at four year college cost around $8,000 on average. Students often opt for a two-year degree at a community college before transferring to a university to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

This is a guest post from Sharon Decker. She’s a bank manager by day and financial writer by night. Sharon loves sharing her tips on money management and investing.

Not too shabby. I actually like my bedroom again. You can even dust when there isn’t any clutter on top of surfaces.

Are you tired of not being able to find what you need?

A house can be hard to manage.

Don’t get too discouraged.

Getting rid of a little bit each day can help.

Don’t miss how quickly you can find items to ditch. You’ll get a more tidy house that you deserve.

Get a Clutter-Free Home and Do Operation Ditch

Getting rid of stuff has it’s benefits.

Decluttering keeps your house tidy, appealing to the eye, and helps you to get rid of items you no longer need. I’ve decided to declutter daily.

For ten minutes a day I am looking for items to discard. I’m hoping to either donate or give items no longer needed to someone. I started in my bedroom.

I went through my things as well as a laundry basket of my family’s clothes. I first attempted to get rid of some of my books but I can’t ever part with them.

At least three of them are about clutter which is pretty funny.  I also have an autographed cope of a book written by the editor-in-chief of REAL SIMPLE magazine. She wrote me a little note in her book that I bought. It inspires me to stay on top of what’s in my house.

I found one of my favorite books. It’s autographed by the editor-in-chief of Real Simple Magazine.

I can’t get rid of any of my personal finance books either because I like to refer to them when needed. I have a hard time getting rid of books in general.

So I settled on clothes. I aimed to ditch any clothing I could find in that ten minute span. I call it the Operation Ditch.  I play music to stay motivated in that span of time.

Here’s what I’m ditching.

• A gently used shirt that just isn’t my style (don’t ask).
• A cardigan and some other clothes that no longer fit my daughter.
• A frame that I’ve had forever that I have no clue why it didn’t go sooner.

When I find things along that way that I can sell, I have my kids put them on Ebay. I rather spend my money on experiences this summer. We are headed to Disney. While the kids like amusement parks and swimming, I like to spend money on local food. I often map out where I want to go and make my own food tour.

To me, traveling is more fun than taking care of things that have such a short life span in my house. Happy decluttering!

Here are other projects and tasks I have accomplished around the house. I hope you find them useful.

How to Vinyl Tile Your Bathroom Floor for 30 Dollars in 360 Minutes

DIY Organization: Secret for Organizing Tiny Pieces of Kids’ Stuff for a Dollar

Tidy Up the Laundry Room in Minutes for 30 Dollars

Cleaning Games: Dirty Little Secret for Cleaning Your Sink on the Cheap

Cure Sink Clutter and Cut Cleaning Time in Half for Free

Free Help: Vacuuming Confetti

Declutter in Minutes with this Trick Plus Motivation from REAL SIMPLE Editor-in-Chief

How to Clean Picture Windows on the Cheap

If you find this information useful, you should take a minute and share it with your friends. Or comment. Or follow me on Google Plus and Pinterest here. Thanks.

Well, you’re in the right place.

Many people find it hard to keep up with their house projects and general maintenance for their home.

It is VITAL to maintaining your property value and helps to potentially avoid bigger problems down the road.

Each Sunday for the next 8 weeks, I’m challenging readers to take better care of their homes inside and out.

I’ll include a modified version of Spring Home Maintenance Musts by Bob Vila.

Whether you are working on a large ongoing  project, simply completing small tasks around the house, or just looking to inspect your home, post pictures, blog posts, and updates here.

Are you up for the challenge?

Link your post in the comments below. Also feel free to show pictures on Twitter. Tweet me at @msenthusiast and use hashtag #home to share your photos, updates, and blog posts.

You are also invited to join a Pinterest Board for the challenge. Just email me at info@moneysavingenthusiast.com if you’d like join.

Challenge 1 :Windows

Make it part of your routine each spring to take care of your windows.

For this week:

• Wash windows (Here’s how I clean picture windows).
• Here’s my solution to clean windows for pennies.
• Check caulking and weather stripping around windows.

If you already completed this or have another ongoing project you are working on feel free to post that as well. The weekly challenge is an attempt to provide structure to your routine. We’d still like to see what you are working on.

If you’d like to be reminded of the challenge by email, I’ll be including it in my weekly newsletter.

Check out this app to score extra cash.

Follow me on Pinterest here.

A few weeks ago, a friend told me “I’d like to make extra money but I don’t feel that I have the time.”

That is why I’m excited to share a tutorial about an app I discovered.

Before you start reading, think about the stores you frequent and the areas you visit when shopping.

Then imagine making extra pocket money while visiting the store.

For what?

When you finished reading this tutorial, you’ll get ideas for how to make extra money without disrupting your regular routine.

I’ll also let you in how I set goals to earn extra money and take action.

Make Extra Money with Little Effort Without Disrupting Your Schedule

There are thousands of people earning money while doing things they would normally do. Easy Shift is an app that let’s you make easy money by completing small tasks while visiting the mall, grocery store, coffee shop, or movie theater.

Once you sign up for the Easy Shift app, you can start looking at the different assignments offered.

In map view, you can click on the  orange markers in the area where  you want to work.

This screen will come up. It indicates the name of the store and the assignment.

If you click on the orange arrow, it will give you the address of the store and detailed information about the assignment.

A sample shift may read “For this shift you’ll visit the store at the address listed above to report on conditions of 4 different sports drinks.

It will also give the amount of photos you’ll need to take and the number of questions you’ll need to answer.

You can tap for directions but you will then have to disclose your location.

If you don’t want to do that, you can jot down the address and just get directions on your own.

If you know you are able to complete the assignment in the time frame given, tap the reserve button (the orange button at the bottom of the screen) to accept the job.

You are also able to see assignments in list view.

When I am looking to make extra money,  I ask myself three questions. Here’s exactly what I do:

1.  Why? -Ask yourself why you are doing this. I write down why I want the extra money.

2. What?-Write down what you are doing- I write a specific measurable goal for doing so.

3. When?-Then I write down what I will do to take action within the next 2 days to get the ball rolling.

4. Potential pitfalls- Write down what could go wrong. Research by Gollwitzer and colleagues shows that well-laid plans are more likely to get accomplished. Also, planning for failures along the way helps to stay on task when stressed.

Sample:

1. Why? I want to make extra money to save for a vacation.

2. What? I will make an extra 50 dollars a week using the Easy Shift app.

3. When? I will download the app and search for jobs within the next 2 days.

4. Potential Pitfall- I may not be able to find work in my area. I will try back daily if this happens.

Research shows that if you don’t act within a 48 hour span, you are not as likely to take action.

 The Bottom Line

The Easy Shift app provides a way for people to make extra money doing small tasks. Get paid to do market research with little effort using this app. Visit stores and other places you frequent in your local area to make money with little effort.

Like it?

Awesome!

Have you used an app that earns you money? Let me know in the comments.

I visited the show in NYC.

Follow me on Pinterest here.

You’ve been cutting back on your spending.

Maybe you’re even doing little things around the house to save money, but it doesn’t seem like enough.

You may be lacking motivation because it just seems too hard.

Don’t give up hope.

Trying to do too much may be HOLDING YOU BACK.

Not any more!

Here are some unconventional tips to continue cutting back without leaving your home (or your couch for that matter).

If you opt not to try this, your wallet may suffer.

Here are tips to save money without leaving your home.

Frugal Living is Easy When You’re a Cost-Cutting Couch Potato

I’ll say it in my most enthusiastic voice . . . I love getting new money-saving tips. However, many people work too hard to get extra savings. People can spend hours keeping track of coupons that they may not even use.

Why go to extremes when you don’t have to? You’re time could be better spent if you stay home and watch TV.

Yes!

No lie.

Record shows throughout the day that have useful money-saving tips.

Here are three shows I watch:

The Chew

The Rachel Ray Show

The Today Show

Once you record these shows, you can fast forward to the segments about money saving tips and avoid the commercials. It’s that easy!

The Chew

I record the Chew on Fridays. They have Extra Value Friday where they give tips about how to save money on food.

They show you:

• How to make inexpensive meals with demonstrations by the hosts.
• You get  the same recipes on their website.
• They reveal how much it costs per serving to make the meal.

Think of it as a free class in the privacy of your own home.

Rachel Ray

I have seen many types of cost-cutting tips on the Rachel Ray Show too. Many are food-related. She recently had author Sara Moulton on to discuss grocery shopping tips. Ones that I never heard before. The show covers other topics such as saving money on weddings, parties, and even real estate tips.

Try to read the description on the DVR to see if the show contains any money saving tips or preview what’s to come on her website . If it’s not covered any time soon, many of the tips are on the internet. You can see them on Youtube or read about them on RachelRayShow.com.

The Today Show

The Today Show has many segments that discuss deals and money-saving advice on a wide variety of topics. I also record this show. While I’m doing laundry, I let it play in the background. Many times you can go directly to the Today Show website and read an article about what was discussed.

Jean Chatzky is the financial editor of  the Today Show. She discusses ways to save on a regular basis. She also discusses investment and advice about getting out of debt. She even offers a course on her own website on a variety of topics including saving money. It’s called Money School. If you want  a crash course in saving more, it’s EXTREMELY affordable. Each course she offers is only $50.

Have you ever heard some great tips but then couldn’t remember the information?

Once you gain more insight from your newly learned tips, find a place to store them. At times, I struggle with simply finding the time and place to organize all of my money saving tips. If you are watching the show, type them into a Google or Word document.  You can also copy and paste the website links to Evernote, bookmark them, or organize them on Pinterest boards . This will make the tips easy to reference later.

Where do you find money-saving tips? Comment below.

Whether you gained a few pounds, just had a baby, or whatever the reason, it’s hard to find more time to exercise with an already busy schedule.

Going to the gym may feel like a chore. It’s also pricey and time consuming.

You may wonder how you’re going to fit one more thing into your schedule.

Don’t get too discouraged though.

Thinking you need more time may be working AGAINST you!

There are simple time-saving tricks to incorporate exercise into your daily routine without spending a bundle. If you decide not to do this, you’ll miss out on the health benefits you deserve.

How to Be a Calorie Burning Fiend While Saving Money with Inspiration From 80s Music

Here are some  exercises to spend less and burn calories inspired by music from the eighties.

1. Walk Like an Egyptian (The Bangles)

Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles was a number one song in 1986. Many people were walking and dancing like Egyptians (their interpretation) to a catchy tune. Walking is one of the simplest ways to get exercise.

Find easy ways to incorporate it into your routine. Try to increase the steps you take throughout the day. Walk on part of your lunch hour at work or get up a little earlier before your day starts.

If you have small children, keep them in a stroller and speed walk wherever you go. When shopping, park far away and walk back and forth to the store you are visiting. If you have extra time, briskly walk around the shopping plaza before or after shopping.

You can squeeze in extra exercise while window shopping. You’ll burn extra calories without spending any more money. The Surgeon General recommends 20 minutes of daily aerobic activity.

2. Every Step You Take (The Police)

Keep track of your steps and the calories you burn using the Free Pedometer App. When I had my first child, people always told me to sleep when the baby sleeps. I hated that. I wasn’t always tired and I didn’t need as much sleep as a baby.

My advice is walk when the baby sleeps (in your house). Go up and down the hallways or other areas where your baby won’t hear you. Do this even if you don’t have kids and just have down time.

Now that my kids are older, I continue to walk around my house while waiting for my daughters to get off the bus from school. My second daughter gets off twenty minutes later than the first. I took that time to continue walking in my halls, up the stairs and in front of the doorway while waiting. Walking in place counts as exercise too.

3. Might as Well Jump (Van Halen)

Continue walking or even jumping in place while watching T.V. It may be hard to actually watch a program while jumping in the air but you can do this exercise during commercials. You may even want to get a jump rope for added fun.

I can’t say I’d try this type of jump at home nor should you.

4. The Reflex (Duran Duran)

According to the SurgeonGeneral.gov, 40% of adults in the U.S. do not participate in any leisure-time physical activity. Consider making a game out of getting in shape. Play a free activity called “box tag”.

You will need a partner to play. You make a square outside with cones or by writing with chalk on the ground. The square has to be big enough for two people two fit inside. One person moves side to side and the other has to mimic that person’s moves while staying within the square.  If you are a parent with older children, you can do this with your kids.

It’s an enjoyable way to incorporate family time or to catch up with a friend this way. This helps you stay active for free. These high speed drills work on your reflexes and your muscles at the same time. Get detailed instructions here.

5. Make exercising a high priority. (Multiple artists from the eighties.)

In the eighties, singers came together to help raise money for cancer. Their concert was called the High Priority Concert.  Andy Warhol designed a t-shirt for the event that was sold on MTV.

Be inspired to make exercising a high priority in your life. Set an exercise goal and stick to it. A recent study suggests that people who write down their goals, share the information with a friend, and send a weekly update were on average 33% more successful in accomplishing their stated goals. Get a partner, grab a pen, write your goals down, and get going.

The Bottom Line

We may think it’s difficult to make extra time for exercise. Try incorporating it into your daily routine. You’d be surprised to find out how many calories you can burn without spending any money.

If you liked post, share it. It’s the right thing to do. If you REALLY liked it, consider signing up for my 5 part series to lose weight and save money.

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When school gets out, kids sometimes think summer should be non-stop fun.

Are you wondering how to keep the whole gang entertained for less?

You may line up a camp or have a few activities in mind, but it’s doesn’t seem to hold them over.

 You might think it’s poor planning but don’t get down on yourself.

A lack of creativity may be at FAULT!

 Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

I believe this to be true when it comes to planning out your child’s summer. If you don’t take steps to plot out inexpensive things to do, it can easily become a kid crazed summer that drains your funds.

 There are plenty of solutions for summer fun that are easy on your wallet. If you ignore them, you may wrack up some big bills when you don’t have to.

Summer: 8 Creative Activities for Kids Your Wallet Will Love

1. Have a photo session.

Many people go to an event and then take pictures. Why not make taking pictures the event. Capture reflections in sunglasses. Catch some cool scenery or even your friends in the reflection.

2. Make a micro-garden with minimal effort.

Here’s 66 things to grow at home with containers.

Grow cilantro and make guacamole together.

 3. Skip the little bubbles, blow giant bubbles.

(Here’s the recipe and how to.)

Trade in your tiny bubbles for big ones. Photo via Flickr

4. Put together a box of sunshine.

Deliver a box of goodies to someone who needs cheer or may not be able to go outside.

Put little items in that are all yellow ( the color of sunshine). Include sticky notes, yellow candies, stickers, pens, pencils, and more.

Check out a local senior center or neighbor in need and bring them a box of sunshine.

5. Put the fun in functional.

Make something that has a function for the whole family.

Car organizer can keep things tidy. Have the kids pick one special treat to put inside when finished.

6. Sumo Bowling

Recycle bottles to make mini-bowling pins. Paint them like sumo wrestlers for fun. The kids can play this indoors or outdoors. This can come in handy as a rainy day activity.

Recycle for some free fun. Photo from Flickr.

7. Make a Last Day of School Gift

Show your kids how proud you are of them by surprising them with expensive gifts on the last day of school. The novelty of free time won’t wear off if they have some new stuff to play with.

Now I’m passing it to you. Do you have any inexpensive summer activities for kids?

Also, if you have a second, share this article. I know I’m shamelessly asking you, but it’s easy. Thank you.

8. Take the indoors out.

Have an outdoor movie night. Watch a classic movie on a warm summer night. Pick a spot to show the movie. Round up a movie player, projector and sound system. Pick a movie everyone will enjoy and have bug spray handy for guests.

Needing motivation to clean? Try getting a colorful cleaning tool.

DIY projects have their perks:

• You don’t have to pay anyone for labor.
• You get it done around your schedule.
• You can save money.

I write down what I will accomplish in my notebook. I call it my project journal.

I then take the necessary steps to complete the project. I read up on how to sand properly. I was sure to use safety precautions.

One part that you really have to prepare for is clean up.

It can save you time and money to do so.

Save Time, Save Money with DIY Project Preparation

Sometimes we don’t think about cleaning up a project until the end. Knowing in advance how messy a project can get and preparing for that is a vital part of carrying out a successful project. It also won’t take hours to clean up.

Step 1. Do a little research.

Step 2. Prepare how you will clean up beforehand.

Step 3 Once finished clean up quickly with needed items.

I was sure to look up how to sand efficiently. I got the best result with the least amount of effort! You also won’t waste paper or damage anything (which can cost you more) if you are sure to do things the right way and prepare. (Hooray!)I had to sand the riser part of my staircase.

I had a date with my sander.

This is what was left on the tread part of the stairs after sanding.

 Before

It’s easy to track dust everywhere if you’re not careful. I made sure to wipe my sneakers off on a nearby welcome mat.

I found that the dust pan alone didn’t get everything up.

Luckily, I knew this in advance so I had materials handy to wipe down the remaining mess.

I had to get a damp cloth to remove the remaining sand and dust particles from the area.

After

Here’s the step after cleaning off the sanded paint. I just have to do the painting.

The Bottom Line

It is possible to complete work around your home for less. It’s important to plan out how you will clean up in advance. This can cut down the time the project takes and save you money in the process. Knowing in advance how messy a project can get and preparing for that is important.  Also be sure to follow proper safety guidelines especially when using tools. You can save a bundle of money this way.

Did you miss a post? Here’s my progress so far.

Day 1 How to Vinyl Tile Your Bathroom Floor for 30 Dollars in 360 Minutes

Day 2 DIY Organization: Secret for Organizing Tiny Pieces of Kids’ Stuff for a Dollar

Day 3 Tidy Up the Laundry Room in Minutes for 30 Dollars

Day 4 Cleaning Games: Dirty Little Secret for Cleaning Your Sink on the Cheap

Day 5 Cure Sink Clutter and Cut Cleaning Time in Half for Free

Day 6 Free Help: Vacuuming Confetti

Day 7 I took a day off.

Day 8 Declutter in Minutes with this Trick Plus Motivation from REAL SIMPLE Editor-in-Chief

Day 9 How to Clean Picture Windows on the Cheap

If you like this post. Please share. I love repins on Pinterest. Follow me there too.
Also, get updates (they’re free). Expect them every Sunday.