7 Ways to Save Money For Your Move
A lot of you have been writing in, asking many great questions about preparing for your move. I decided that, in addition to answering you all personally, I would also provide these tips for everyone. So, I’m super excited to bring you a new opportunity to sign up for 1 year’s worth of free tips! I will send you 2 tips a month of actionable things you can do to prepare for your move. They are small, managable tasks, so that moving to LA can seem less overwhelming. Since this new opportunity is still a few weeks in the making, I wanted to give you a sneak peek by giving you ideas on one of th emost popular topics: money.
I talked about saving money in my ebook, so you know that it’s recommended to save at least $3,000 to $6,000 before moving to Los Angeles. Now, I know many of you may be thinking that these are big scary numbers that you just don’t have. Well, keep in mind, these numbers are realistic for moving comfortably. The $3,000-$6,000 gives you wiggle room in case it takes a while to find a job, or in case you find the perfect apartment that requires a huge security deposit. It’s definitely possible to move here with less money saved, especially if you already have job or living arrangements set up. That being said, here are some ideas to get you thinking about saving that money so you can protect yourself when you move:
1. BABYSITTING
I know, I know. It’s babysitting. But let me tell you, baby sitters make a lot of money these days! They seem to be making much more than I ever made babysitting. If you’re really dedicated to saving money for your trip, give up a few Saturday nights with your friends (where you would probably be spending money), and hang with some fun kids, making $15-$30 an hour. It may seem like a small amount, but it can add up quickly.
2. MOWING LAWNS / WALKING DOGS / HELPING OUT NEIGHBORS
I know, I may as well be telling you to stand on the corner of a suburban street and sell lemonade. You don’t have to literally mow lawns or walk dogs, but brainstorm other ideas you can do to help out neighbors or people you know. Maybe you can ask a family member to work in their office filing or answering phones. Maybe you could shovel snowed-in driveways (hey, great workout!). Whatever it is, use your resources of friends and family who may be able to pay you for tasks.
3. GET A JOB
This one is tough if you are still in school. When I was in college, I waitressed for a couple years, and while it was stressful balancing school and work, it felt so rewarding coming home with cash. Over time, it added up to be a decent amount of money because I saved as much as I could. So, try it if you have the time! It’s good to start developing a work ethic
4. SELL YOUR STUFF ON EBAY
When you move to Los Angeles, you probably won’t be able to fit all of your stuff in your car, or in boxes anyway, so why not start downsizing and sell some old stuff? Look around your house and find items you no longer need or use. If they are in decent condition, take some pictures and put them up on eBay. It’s a great way to make some extra cash.
5. GET SOME ROOMMATES (LIKE YOUR PARENTS)
If you’re not already living at home…you may want to give it a try. If you have family who will allow you to live with them rent-free, you will save a ton of money! If you’re paying $500 in rent now, and move in with your parents for a year, that would save you $6,000! Then you can splurge on a great place in LA I know it may not be appealing, but having your meals cooked for you and a place to do laundry is pretty awesome. Totally worth $6,000! If you currently live alone, you could look for a roommate to help cut down your rent. A roommate could save you a couple hundred dollars a month, which is HUGE!
6. THE GOOD OL’ FASHIONED ‘CUT OUT STARBUCKS’ TRICK
It’s tried and true. If you’re spending $5 at Starbucks every day, you could save $1,825 in one year if you gave it up. Are you a smoker? Cut the filthy habit and save tons of money. What else could you give up? Do you consistently buy 3 drinks every Saturday night? Try only buying 1 or 2. Making small changes in your daily or weekly spending can make a big difference.
7. SAVE YOUR ASS OFF
My obsession Jack Canfield says “Pay yourself first”. What this means, is every time you receive money, like a paycheck, pay yourself first. Put 10% away into a savings account. Then you can use what’s left over. If 10% is too difficult, try just putting $10 a week away. Or $20. Whatever you can do. Even if it’s a small amount, not only will you be saving money, but you will also be teaching yourself how to save money, which is invaluable. You should always be saving, no matter how small an amount. Try to live below your means. If you spend everything you make, you’ll be forever living paycheck-to-paycheck, and you won’t be prepared for a rainy day. Which would be very scary. So get in the habit now! One fun way to start, is to open a savings account for a very specific goal. Like moving to LA. You could have your “Moving to LA” savings account, and you can watch it grow over the year.
I hope these ideas help you! These are just a starting point, I’m sure you can start brainstorming many more! I’m excited to meet you all in LA, so start saving If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below or email me. Happy saving!