After a few months of frustration over cutting $10 here and $25 there in our budget, I thought I might be going about it the wrong way. I had clearly gotten to the point where there were no more expenses that could be cut easily without making serious lifestyle changes such as selling a car or house (which I do not want to do).But then I thought… Why does I have to lower my expenses? Why can’t I find a way to increase my income?

So I set about trying to find a little extra money. I’m not one for delivering pizza, and quickly found an extra $1,000+ a month in income writing and speaking about my industry. That’s an extra $12,000 – $15,000 a year that can go straight to debt. I’m confident that I can find more too, if I keep looking.

So instead of worrying about $10 and $20 expenses month after month, take some time to think about ways you can increase your income. Here are some ideas:

• Write articles for a publication, magazine, or newsletter
• Write a book or ebook
• Speak at conferences or industry events
• Offer consulting services
• Get a part-time job
• Start a home-based business

The list goes on and on. No matter what your skill level, education or experience, there are tons of opportunities to make a little extra cash. I think it could be more productive to work on increasing your income after you’ve already reduced your expenses to the bare minimums.