Let’s face it, we are all looking for ways that we can give our bank accounts a bit of a boost right now. The winter is always tough for anyone trying to save. It is so difficult to cut down on our energy bills when the weather is as appalling as it has been in the UK over the last few months. It is hard to make up for the amount of money we spent over the holiday period when we need to find ways to keep our spirits up during the short, dark, cold days of January and February. But at long last, spring is finally here. The days are longer, the weather is better, and we are all feeling a bit more optimistic.
The question is, how can we give our monthly earnings a bit of a boost? Well, the good news is that there are a number of different ways that you can cut costs in your household and in your day-to-day that will leave your monthly account looking a lot more encouraging. There are also plenty of ways that you can add some additional funds to your revenue streams. Let’s break down some of the biggest.
Think About Freelancing
If we are talking about the most effective ways to give your monthly earnings a boost, then freelancing has got to be at the top of the list. The freelance market has been booming over the last few months as a huge number of workers have taken advantage of gaps in the marketplace caused by the Great Resignation. There are so many different roles available so think about your skill set and what you could offer potential employers. The best place to start is by talking to any friends or relatives who do freelance work on the side. They may be able to advise you on the best platforms to use to look for work and what kind of language to use in your pitches.
Then you need to start working on your portfolio. Put together a selection of your best work that represents a broad range of your different skills. Make it appealing and varied, but avoid overwhelming by including too many examples. You must not be afraid to reach out to your existing professional network to let them know that you are available for freelance work. Freelancing is all about the hustle, so chase up emails and cold calls if you need to. Think about setting up a professional social media account where you can showcase your work and start building up your network.
Can You Add A Side Hustle?
If you don’t think freelancing is a viable option for you, it may be time to consider adding a side hustle. There is a huge demand for hourly workers out there and it can be very easy to fit this kind of workaround into your existing work hours. For example, if you own your own car or bike, you could sign up for part-time delivery work. Alternatively, could you make time to work as a lift driver for one of the many services? If you need to stay home to earn money with a side hustle, there are also plenty of options. Whether it is doing online surveys or testing websites, there is plenty of money to be made online.
Compare Prices Where You Can
We all have that friend who is the king or queen of getting the best price or making sure that they get the best rate available. The truth is that there is no great secret to what they are doing, they are simply using the tools available, and they are doing their research. Say you want to sign up for a new phone contract. Do not simply stick with your existing provider. Use a price comparison site to compare the going rates for the service that you want. Tell your contract provided that you are looking for something else and see if they offer you a better deal. Payday loans are one of the best examples of why it is so important to look for a good rate. We all know how important it is to make sure that we understand terms and conditions and interest rates, and it is particularly key if you are looking for a payday loan. With Payday UK, you can get no-obligation quotes from a range of different loan providers to make absolutely certain that you are getting the loan that is right for you.
Don’t Forget The Little Things
When we are looking for ways that we can bring extra money in at the end of every month, we often focus on the big things. We always want to find the biggest possible sum as quickly as possible but focusing on the little things and finding those small steps could be much more effective. This is where an organization is so important.
Sit down with your partner and talk about where you want to be financially and go over your last few months’ bank statements to be clear on where you are right now. Set yourself targets that you can achieve instead of having a vague number in your head. Once you know that, you can start working on a timeframe. Think about the little things that you can do right now, such as selling equipment and items that you don’t use anymore. For example, are you still hitting that cross-trainer every day now that we can go to the gym again? Make a timetable for the things that will take a little longer (such as looking for a higher-paying job). Speaking of jobs, that brings us to our final point.
Think About Boosting Your Skillset
As much as we may want to, it is not always possible to simply march into your boss’ office and tell them that you deserve a pay rise. That may very well be the case, but if you want to push for a better-paid position then you are going to have to get proactive. There has been a lot of talk about what the Great Resignation actually is, but one of the most common themes is that many employees are considering, or reconsidering their skillsets. If you are finding that you are being passed over for roles in your company, then it may be time to think about how you can make yourself an essential part of their growth.
We all heard a lot about the pivot to online over the last two years, and businesses in all sectors are putting greater emphasis on the importance of digital and AI technology. There are so many different online courses out there available from universities and business schools that the only question is: where do you want to develop? Do you want to understand more about how AI tech is improving the way that we use customer data? Do you want to pick up some graphic design skills to work on marketing campaigns and website redesigns? Or do you want to get to grips with the way that disruptive forces are changing the business landscape the world over? Paying for online learning may cost you in the short term but it will make you a far more impressive candidate for higher-paying jobs, whether they are with your current employer or elsewhere.
