I'm mostly venting, but will also take suggestions for things I could do to bring in extra money or cut costs.

I don't want to sound like your parents--but stop smoking. If you have a land line and/or cable or satellite TV, cancel them. Become a library aficionado and don't buy anymore books or magazines. Limit eating out to once a week.

We did a lot of these when we were really broke and they helped a lot. We still only eat out once a week, usually, and only get one or two magazines. I bring lunch every day.

Quitting smoking is a very difficult work in progress; I spent $30 on smokes this month, and about the same last month. I don't have landline or cable tv, just cable internet. I don't buy books and very rarely buy magazines. I spent $12 on eating out last month. If I reduce anything on my phone plan, I'm risking overages. I guess I need to become a "lights out" fiend and expand my temperature comfort zone.

I spend about $200 on food per month, I'm becoming friends with store brands. I rarely buy meat, usually some sausage to flavor rice and beans.

One idea for selling stuff

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and I would say pick one of those things scrappy says and start there

edit - never mind you are doing.

Hmm. What about drinking? Hard not to go to bars in NOLA, though.

Added benefit of a second job is that it leaves you less time to spend money. Could you hire yourself out to do handy person type night weekend small jobs? You have the skills, right?

Spent $20 on alcohol this month, including the 12-pack I contributed to the communal cooler at our parade spot. I don't really go to bars much anymore, either.

Could you hire yourself out to do handy person type night weekend small jobs? You have the skills, right?

I have some of the skills, but if I were to do that I'd like to be the assistant not the boss. I think I'd rather do something different, and I'm very social, hence receptionist or the like. Babysitting? IDK.

Well, just thinking of easiest, fastest way to make extra $.

I know the problem I keep bumping up against with my quitting smoking is that it shoots my spikiness through the roof if I try to push it too far (or have to muddle through a few days knowing I can't just buy another pack if I want, 'cuz no money for it). No solutions for that just now, merely an observation.

For saving money, do you use coupons and the store discount cards and all that stuff? It's usually just a little bit, but it adds up.