Article by Bridgette Barrett

In today’s financial climate, most households are looking for ways to beat the credit crunch – after all, none of us want to have to give up the things that we have worked so hard for. Whether it is earning extra money to pay the bills or to make sure that you can still have some of the things you might consider luxuries, such as a family holiday abroad.

There are many suggestions of ways to cut your outgoings, from giving up those little luxuries – such as one man’s idea of cutting out his daily takeaway coffee – to the more drastic suggestion of selling your car. Buying second hand items has seen a revival and car boot sales are becoming increasingly popular, as people raise money by selling their unwanted items and other people save money buying from them.

Maybe now is the time to revisit past New Years’ resolutions such as those to get fit by walking or cycling instead of taking the car where possible. It has been calculated that in this country we waste approximately a third of the food that we buy, so being more cautious about what we throw away and using up leftovers can help us to save money. Growing your own food has seen a revival with vegetable seed sales now outstripping those of flower seed sales. Turning down your heating a few degrees, or putting on an extra layer of clothes can help reduce heating costs as we move into autumn and winter.

However, a preferable option is to earn more money to pay the increasing living costs that we all face. One way of boosting your income may be to take on a job working from home on a part-time basis. Direct sales companies such as Tish Tash Toys have seen an increase in people interested in jobs that will earn them extra income whilst working the hours they choose. This means that you can work around an existing job or family commitments. Many of the agents working for Tish Tash Toys chose to do so for exactly those reasons, and with a start up pack from as little as £9.99 it is an affordable option in today’s financial climate.