Chrysnblue's $20 Challenge

Living on a budget has been hard, but so far I have been good. I haven't strayed from the budget and my credit card debt is slowly shrinking. With the new baby on the way, I took the time actually budget out the purchases I will make. I have time, not due until October, to purchase items one at a time. I really do have to start from scratch, as most of the old baby items were given away. Lol! I heard that happens alot.

My $20 challenge hasn't progressed from my last post. I have listed several books on amazon, half, and other textbook sites. So far no one is buying. They didn't cost me anything as I had them from college. I will have a few more boxes to go through. Maybe some other books will turn up that I can sell.

Well, I sent out invites for the candle party with no success. Only one person responded that they were interested. Not enough interest for the amount of time I would have to put into making the candles and buying the few supplies I would need. So I moved on to another idea.

I listed some movies on ebay. Sold one yea! I also added enough to cover shipping and handling and part of the ebay fees. Will list total when i get my ebay invoice. But one DVD does not break the bank. My $20 a month is holding strong. I haven't touched the $40 and it is sitting in my HSBC account. At least it is earning interest. I am expecting a check from my inbox account for $75 which I will be depositing into my HSBC. I am not counting it yet as it hasn't arrived, takes three months. But this not is just to remind me to deposit it into the account.

I am also thinking of listing my services as a writer/editor on a few free classifieds for those who need help with business documents. Any money that would come in from this would then be added to my HSBC account.

I had a few books that just haven't sold from half.com and did some research, on ebay none sold. I have since given them away to free cycle. Those who could use items to sell, could check out the local free cycle in there area.

So I've decided to except the $20 challenge and how do I plan on doing it. I've though about saving $20 a month, which might not seem like a big deal. But saving for me is the biggest deal of all.

I have no experience in saving and my will pwer to save is equal to a five year olds will power not to eat that lolipop. Hey, maybe the five year old has one up on me. Sad I know. If I save $20 a month at 4%, it is better then I have been doing, but I can do better can't I? So what other creative ideas can I come up with that will get the ball rolling.

Ideas?

Here's a few.

I can look around my house and resort to selling on ebay items I can part with. My DVD collection is getting kinda big. But which ones can I part with.

Or I can create some candles, one of my many hobbies, and do a candle party. I already have supplies, I always have supplies. Wehere does the $20 come in? I can use the $20 to buy packaging, create, evites to inform guests and of course the telephone. Then see how much I can gather from one party. I will see how the party works out and post later. This might work, as many of my friends love candles. Wish e luck!