(F)utilies

Saving potential: ~ $100-200 monthly, $1200-2400 a year

Time investment: None

Useful for: Everyone not homeless

Americans are too damn comfortable in their houses. This is possible because we cool down or heat up our places with the AC running all the time. When you live in a fairly big house (typically with bad insulation) that's a lot of air to process. Bigger also means more surface for the cool or heat to dissipate from.

"B-b-but I need that!" you whine. WRONG! Your body is built to survive in the most adverse

environments; you just forgot about it living a modern life. Your ancestors had none of that and were doing just fine. Of course they learned how to deal with a little discomfort and turn it into hardiness. 

Here's the catch: You don’t even need to go to the extremes. Just lower your thermostat to 62 degrees in winter and 78 in summer and you'll save hundreds of dollars. The difference is  negligible. Obviously you'll complement this with appropriate clothing. Ditch the shorts in winter (you idiot), wear warm socks, and a wool sweater instead. Wear sunglasses in summer...

Also, stop blasting the AC on full in your car. It burns quite a lot of fuel and makes walking (healthy and cheap) outside of the rolling fridge much harder to bear by comparison.

In addition to the savings your body will become more hardened and you will accommodate to living with less. Not being dependent on certain equipment with limited (or costly) availability is always a good thing.

Top that off with cold showers for a stronger immune system, increased alertness, and a benefit in badassery.

It's a Dog's Life

Earnings potential:  An easy 30 dollars an hour, unlimited earning potential

Time investment: Finding clients (just hang out at dog parks and yoga workshops) 

Useful for: Animal lovers, people who love being outdoors

    Are you an animal lover? Do you not mind having fur and drool all over you? Are you that asshat who lures in women with a puppy? Here's a way to have all of that without the upkeep of owning a dog - and even earning money on the side!



            Dogwalkers are earning and winning in every possible corner. Does this sound silly? It's not. Think about it - they are developing social contacts, valuable life skills, and earning cold hard CASH.

Dogwalkers learn the valuable life skills of patience, willingness to put up with unexpected behavior, and an appreciation for nature. Dogs can be annoying animals. They poop everywhere and might bite you. This is good practice for having children. Once again, that's not a joke.  At least you can kick a dog and not have CPS show up.

 On top of that, is the cash that really makes it worth it. Dogwalkers are often paid a going rate of $15...every half hour. So $30 an hour. Cash. Suckers that went to college don't earn nearly that much starting out, and they ain't earning cash! Hey, and it gets better. That's per dog. If you drum up a neighborhood of yuppies, you can march down the street with four or five dogs leaving behind a steaming trail of success on people's front lawns. $120 an hour for such little work is, in all seriousness, something to try to acheive.

 Also, if you are a guy, you have the opportunity to hit on lone female joggers. Not only are they seperated from the pack, but they are even lured in by your furry bait. You can meet women, potential future contacts, and more women. If they are so interested in dogs, they may even have some dogs (or friends with dogs) who will be willing to pay you.

So what are you waiting for? Get out and earn!

-Freddy

Lower Your Bill at Goodwill

Savings potential: ~ $1500 annually, or 90% of your clothing expenses

Time investment: Scouting at Goodwill once in a while

Useful for: Men and women, everyone in shape, hipsters

So you think you're too ugly to be loved by anyone? Wanting to look good is a valid concern and eventually you will realize that the clothes your mom bought 10 years ago no longer match your style. Fine, go out and do some shopping, but know this:

The fashion industry perpetuates the notion that you need to buy brand new clothes every season so that people can like you. That is a maneuver aimed to make you spend the fruit of your hard labor on a shirt put together by a 7 year old from Bangladesh. That child was paid a few cents and most of the buying price goes into the pocket of some rich textile moguls.

Be smart and don't throw your money at those people who already have enough. Instead invest in a few timeless pieces of clothing that you can easily combine and layer: That includes unicolor shirts, sturdy jeans (blue, indigo, black), a few good shirts, and sweaters. Throw a nice jacket on top and you're all set. Where to get all of this?

Goodwill.

Does that sound cheap to you? That's because it is dirt cheap! But don't be fooled, the quality of the clothes you can get there is actually quite good, because there is an oversupply of secondhand clothes. That means that Goodwill can afford to throw out damaged or low quality clothes and only keep good pieces and brands.

The only downside is that every piece is unique and possibly not available in your specific size. But that makes shopping at Goodwill a treasure hunt that is a lot of fun. You can (and should) check out stores regularly for new clothes that you like.

Make a habit out of looking for fitting items. This reinforces a basic principle of saving: Planned behavior and being able to wait for something will get you good deals. Look for a new winter coat and boots in summer, buy shorts in winter if in stock.

Goodwill is for two kinds of people: The poor and the smart.

Getting yourself a new suit for 15$ = smart. A shirt is $3. Leather boots for $10. Want a new tie? Here you are, $1! Sometimes they also offer other household items for similarly low prices.

Have a look and remember one more thing: When you are in shape every right size item of clothing looks good on you.

-Jimmy

Where'd You Get Those Tats?

Earnings potential: $30,000 at the low end, hundreds of thousands at the high end

Time investment: Learning how to properly tattoo

Useful for: artsy types, college students, talented drawers, prison inmates

Do you like to draw? On people? No, this post isn't about drawing obscenities on your frat brother's face after a night of debauchery. Become a tattoo artist!

 The first major pro about this job is the flexibility. Work your own hours, choose your clients, and even choose what kind of artwork you want to pursue. Tattooing is most profitable when you take a subject that you really admire, and you decide to become a master at it. Some tattoo artist specialize in intricate texts, others in landscapes, and others in tattooing images of faces, people, or animals. As long as you are earning something, your time is more important than money in many ways. But money is still important!

  Tattoo artists can charge huge sums for little work. A going rate is often $60, $70, or even $100+ per hour of work. This means that even a lazy tattoo artist can have a decent living. A tattoo artist willing to drum up customers and work 8 to 10 hour days can rake in some serious cash. And we do mean CASH. Lots of customers will be willing (or have no other option) to pay in cash. Having immediate payment is always a good thing.

Tattooing people is a very personal job. This means that you are likely to get repeat customers and build relationships. If there is anything that you should be learning from this blog, it's that relationships are vital. They open new doors and new opportunities. New jobs, new travels, and new knowledge. Better yet, you will most likely be dealing with interesting people. Roadies, musicians, dealers, and more.

On a darker note, being a tattoo artist can also be incredibly valuable in one terrible situation - prison. Tattoo artists are highly respected in the prison system. They are protected and paid well -for prison standards - with necessities. There you have it - a career that pays well, helps create valuable and interesting contacts, and will save you in prison.

What else do you need? Get out and earn!

-Freddy

Street Musician

Earnings potential: ~ $21 per hour, around $45,000 a year in optimal conditions (full-time)

Time investment: Learning how to play an instrument

Useful for: artsy types, college students, talented musicians

If you live in a big city, or any area with a downtown, you can sit on your butt, play an instrument, and rake in cash. Either  they will pay you because you are talented, or they will throw in money out of pity. You can't lose!

This is one of the most flexible jobs we have on this site. You can look at the window and decide whether or not it's a good day to spread your tunes on the street. Street musicians can make money in any major  city. Take care to look out for major events, such as fairs and festivals. You can even play close to other major concerts and leach off of the traffic that is passing by.

If you are a very talented musician, consistently playing the same street corner in a major area of town is a good way to get your name out there! Don't just assume you have to play a guitar - many street musicians play instruments such as violin, bass, or simply drums. It's also becoming more common to see street musicians mixing records and audio files, looping tracks, and using digital music programs right on the streets.

Meet some people, get some sun, and make some money!

-Freddy

Couchsurfing

Saving potential: ~ $50-500 per day of traveling  (depending on your travel budget)

Time investment: sometimes it takes a little bit of planning  to find a suitable host

Useful for: travellers, people who want to learn and build their social skills (everyone!)

Couchsurfing will restore your faith in humanity.

It's an extensive internet community of people offering to host travelers at their home, be it modest and authentic or extravagant and metropolitan. You can meet many kind people of all ages who share their living spaces, experiences, food and everything else about their culture. There are no costs, it's about making gifts and receiving gifts.

The way it works is you create a profile and introduce yourself with some words and pictures, and BAM, you're all set to look for hosts across the globe or in your home town to get out of your bubble. You can also just look for other travelers to meet up with and explore together or ask for someone to show you around and give you valuable information. There's plenty of meetups in bars where you encounter interesting new people from around the world mixed with your home town dwellers, each offering their perspectives, knowledge and human decency.

The typical duration for a stay is 1-3 days, initially. While that does not sound like a lot, often times when you get along well with the host you can ask to stay longer. I had a great experience in Kenya where I got to stay in a very safe and well equipped place for one month.

Of course the benefit of this becomes possible through a tit-for-tat behavior. People can tell whether you're a leech or rather a valuable member of the community. Not surprising, you become a valuable member by offering the same services that you yourself like to use: Show some lost travelers the way, bring them to a friend's party, or let them crash on your couch. All of this earns you references on your profile, which in turn allows people to more easily trust you and offer their company and space.

That's also why there hardly ever are truly bad experiences made by travelers: A profile built over time with the testimonies of members of a well-spirited, open minded community and your own common sense provide a strong safety net. Cultural differences might challenge you a little here and there, but this is your opportunity to learn to be smooth and culturally literate.

If you feel uncomfortable at first, stick to hosts that have lots of references and/or travel with a friend/group of friends (anything is possible on couchsurfing).

What I really, really want to make clear is that you can grow infinitely and become a worldly, sociable and charming person by doing couch surfing. It's a payback that surpasses the saved hotel costs by a long shot. If that's your motivation to get into it, that's fair, but you'll quickly get addicted to this intensely rewarding experience for all the right reasons.

Go out and enjoy yourself with friends you've never met!

-Jimmy

Kindly Deeds Done (Not) for Free!

Saving potential: ~ $100 per week, $400 per month, $4,800 per year

Time investment: Walking to the local plasma donation center, filling out paperwork

Useful for: the unemployed, students, do-gooders

A lot of ways to make money in this world revolve around screwing over someone else in one way or another. Are you uncomfortable with that? Don't worry, there are a few ways to make a quick buck that don't require ripping off people. Plasma donation is one of them.  

Plasma donation is a great way to earn quick cash. Your payments are usually on the spot, and there are no questions asked. Better yet, the effects from donating plasma are relatively minimal, with the only noticeable side affects including drowsiness. Of course, check with your doctor beforehand to make sure that you can safely donate. 

Here are some tips for you if you intend to start donating plasma for money. 

• Drink plenty of water before and after donating
• Eat a nice big meal before and after donating
• Restrain from heavy lifting for 24 hours (we're looking at you, muscle heads!) 
• Don't smoke before or after donating. You shouldn't be wasting your money on this anyway.

Donating plasma won't just make you money - it will save you money! That's right. Going to the plasma center will save you money on physical check-ups, as you will receive free health screenings. This will alert you of any health issues you have not been aware of, as well as bring attention to the onset of any diseases that may have gone unnoticed.  It's also healthy! Your body will begin to renew part of its blood supply after your donation. 

Donating plasma is also a way to build up "social credit". You are helping those who are in dire need. Cancer patients, burn victims, and more. Who knows? Maybe you will also be in need of plasma donations one day. 

Do a good deed...and get out and earn! 

-Freddy

Sharing is Caring

Savings potential: ~ $300-1000 per month, $3600-12000 per year

Time investment: lots of time saved through shared responsibilities, help and synergies 

Useful for: people new in town, people who want to build their social network (that should be everyone!)

This would be obvious if we lived in Japan where disposable space is a luxury and close to the most expensive status symbol you can pull off, especially in a city like Tokyo. But even in the vast US where space is abundant, rent can eat up a significant amount of your disposable funds (unless daddy handed you the keys to your condo - in that case, what are you doing here you lucky SOB?!) 

When strained for money you'd be crazy to live by yourself. It's the biggest money sink next to a car and food expenses. Instead of blowing away $600-2000 (depending on where you live it may be significantly more) each month, consider the advantages of having roommates:

• Rent gets split by the number of cohabitants
• Utilities, internet etc. get split
• Shared appliances mean you don’t need to tie down too much of your capital
• Due to the overall savings you can afford a bigger flat in a better neighborhood than you would alone
• Roommates can be friends and jumpstart your social network
• Roommates provide a variety of experiences thanks to different personalities and social circles
• You grow and become more social, even if you consider yourself to be an introverted person
• You learn how to deal with difficult situations, how to be a team player, and how to assert yourself
• You still have your own room and all the privacy you need

Overall I estimate the savings by living with roommates to be as high as 50% of what you would pay living by yourself, with a whole lot of additional benefits that are hard to put a number on. 

Sharing your flat is extremely common among young people and is becoming more normal for older adults, too. If you don't think so, you might want to consider moving in with your partner or significant other. But that's a different animal, and I wouldn’t jump the gun on that one. 

Also, moving back in with your parents can be a life saver - however, don't settle there for good. You need to harness outside energy to push you to new frontiers, and concerned parents who just want you to be happy might not give you the same stimulation as roomates-turned-friends could. 

If you really can't stand the thought of having someone else around your living quarters for most of the time, look into renting out your spare room, couch or camping spot on the internet on a day to day basis. 

If you don’t think you want to be a paid host, just invite couchsurfers to stay for free. Sound stupid? It's not, see my article on the benefits of couch surfing!

Sharing is caring and totally worth it. 

-Jimmy

Ride Your Bike, Fatty!

Saving potential: ~ $550 per month, $6650 per year

Time investment: depending on distances, you might save time or add a few hours on top

Useful for: city dwellers, sports enthusiasts

While driving your car certainly can be a useful and fun asset (as long as you're not driving in a big metropolis), it's actually a grossly underestimated money sink. A car incurs costs both while you're using it and while it's parked: you have to pay tax and insurance even if it's just sitting in the garage, slowly rusting away and depreciating in cost.When you do drive, you have to worry about gas, repairs and even getting into an accident that your cheap-ass insurance doesn't cover. 

As the rundown shows, these costs average around $6650 every year!

Imagine you stop driving for five years (at least not in your own car!) - that will set you up with a nice sum of $30,000 ready to be invested in something that actually earns you a revenue. 

Granted, a car might be necessary for your work, but think about whether you can move in closer, or can get into carpooling. Better yet, make a habit out of biking, lose some pounds, and gain some muscle while your piggy bank is growing steadily. 

You can get a used bike for less than $100 on Amazon, Craigslist or eBay. There really is no excuse for not riding a bike in times where obesity is rampant and people are suffocating in exhaust fumes. In cities, a bike oftentimes is faster and more flexible. Once you know how to take care of your bike, you can teach others or help them with their bikes for some street cred!

If you decide on having a car, have a look into our rundown on driving for Uber to make some money.

-Jimmy 

Tutor

Minimum Earnings Potential: ~ $20 - $30 per hour, $7800 pear year (CASH) 
Maximum Earnings Potential: Practically unlimited

Time investment: other than finding one or two clients, none

Useful for: college students, academics 

Tutoring is an easy way for struggling students, academics, and teachers to pocket cold hard cash on a daily basis with minimal effort.  Furthermore, it's a great review of all the things that you were taught at a young age, but forgot. Quadratic equations? The history of the constitution? Basic chemistry? These are all basic building blocks that you can brush up on. They can also help you further your own education if you plan on going back to school for a degree or your masters.

Where should you look for tutoring gigs? As with many things, people tend to forget that sometimes the old fashioned way works best. Hanging up signs in your neighborhood, posting adverts near schools and playgrounds, and asking local parents is usually the easiest way to secure a tutoring gig. If they know you, it's even better - they would feel guilty about firing you. CraigsList is also a good option. However, when it comes to finding tutoring gigs online, be wary of services that do not pay immediately. Also be wary of services, such as WyzAnt, that pocket part of your earnings. There is zero need for a middleman in tutoring, so stay away from these so-called "services"!

A great thing about tutoring is the almost limitless potential. Yes, you heard that right. See, kids tend to have friends (I'm sorry if you were one that didn't). Furthermore, birds of a feather flock together. If a kid you are tutoring struggles in school, chances are that his friends also struggle in school. Network among his friends, and especially his parents, to get a steady customer base of around 4-6 clients. At this point, you can make your services more efficient by tutoring more than one kid at once in "tutoring groups".

Assuming that you somehow get tired of raking in cash all week with minimal effort, another advantage of being a tutor is the resume material. Having an extended tutoring gig signals to an employer that you are knowledgeable, well-read, and patient.  Most importantly, it shows them that you have the skills to market yourself. So what are you waiting for? Get out and earn!

-Freddy 

Get out and earn!

 Let's state the obvious. You're not going to get rich siting around and doing nothing. OK, maybe if you're a trust fund kid, but if you're reading this, you're probably not. Get out and earn!

 Let's lay down some ground rules. 

• You will NOT get rich through being lazy.
• You will NOT get rich through taking surveys online.
• You WILL need to spend money to make money.
• You WILL have costs.
• It will NOT be easy. 

A big problem with people is the lack of ability to prioritize. While we are going to show you 100 ways to make it to your first million, bear in mind that you should focus on a few methods, Select the ones that appeal to you, your talents, and seem most realistic to your situation.  Don't stretch out your plans too much and always remember - slow and steady wins the race. What does this mean? If you're working on a Youtube channel, stay focused on that channel. Do not try to simultaneously create a new blog, create your own website, get through college, work a job, learn a new language, and save the world. Overloading yourself will lead to failure in every one of these catagories.

Another problem is being a "shut-in". Some people out there may be genius programmers or the best online poker players, but the reality is that most jobs, hustles, gigs, and ways to make money out there require you to be a sociable person. Get people to like you! That's why part of it is GET OUT and earn money. Get out! Have a little fun and meet new people. You might say - "Well, I'm just not a people person". Too bad! Become a people person. Or at least find people that you like to be around. Trust me, you will become a better person for it and learn to enjoy life more fully.

-Freddy

The Golden Rule

So you want to be a millionaire…

Robbing a bank goes against your code? The chance of winning the lottery strikes you as unlikely? You're just too damn lazy for hard work? I feel you.

Luckily there's more, and we will be getting into a hundred unusual and unique ways of making your fun pasttimes earn you your first million. However, before letting you in on the greatest secrets of modern mankind, I want to make the case for an approach from the other direction that is tried and true:

Have more money by spending less money!

You most likely have some amount of resources at your disposal (which we will increase soon), be it pocket money, an actual salary, or just a few hours worth of hustlin' every month. That's your starting point. You most likely live somewhere and that place needs upkeep. You need to eat and want to watch a movie every once in a while. It's alright to make a living and spending it to survive. 

But don't be fooled by the media and people around you: You don't need anywhere near the amount they advocate spending to survive - or even to live comfortably. It only takes a small amount of money. The rest of your time and finances can in turn be invested into becoming independent. Would you rather be a slave to someone else or a free man?

What a lot of Average Joes spend on travelling for a week lasts me for a month full of fun adventures and gained wisdom. A lot of what you think you need is actually a waste of time, health and sanity. In this world nothing worth having can be bought only with money. There's always a way around two corners that gets you exactly what you want and need, as long as you're willing to look for it and be open minded. Don't be a sucker.

Ask successful people, like Warren Buffet or Ingvar Kamprad (the founder of Ikea), two of the most frugal billionaires: Saving money is essential if you eventually want to be free to spend it (which by the time you have it you won't even need anymore, trust me!).

The saying goes 'You've got to spend money to make money' and that’s entirely true. At the same time, you gotta have money to spend money, which is why we will get you to save up comfortably so that you can invest your precious time and money into what will become your first million and ultimately, a life of freedom and extravaganza that you love living!

Be smart and you will succeed!  


-Jimmy