Your Frugal Home Based Business Opportunity

A Home Business Article Contributed by Sharon Hill

Saving Money Can Save Your Home Based Business Opportunity

As I grew my freelance writing home based business opportunity, and struggled with keeping a roof over my head, I had to look for ways to cut back on home expenses. I began to view it as a game. What could I do that I hadn't thought of before? I made a list of the bills I paid each month, noting next to each the average amount I paid each month - or the amount of the last bill.

I called my cable company. I had long ago returned my digital box but was there more I could do? It turns out there was. I cut back to "limited" cable. It's fewer channels than basic cable - they don't tell you right off that it even exists. But when I called and said, "Take out my cable. I can't afford it, " (I didn't really mean it) all of a sudden there was an alternate less-expensive choice. I have 20 channels and it saved me $28 each month. Do I miss Lifetime and CNN? You betcha.

But I'm reading more and watching a few good shows that I had bypassed before when I had more choices. And they're surprisingly entertaining.

I also brought up my car insurance plan online and looked at the details. Turns out I had two road side assistance plans. One through AARP, (less expensive than and just as good as AAA) the other through my auto insurance company. I cancelled the auto insurance road side help, cancelled the car rental option (I work at home. I can do without a car for a few days if I need to.) cut my deductibles back from $500 to $1000 and saved $18 each month.

By the way, if you're 50 or older, you'd be amazed at all the AARP discounts there are - even AOL knocks twelve percent off your bill for your AARP membership. Check out the AARP site. Also sign up for www.seniordiscounts.com. Great discount resource guide.

You'd be amazed at all the little things you can do to save a few dollars here and there. A change from whole life insurance to term will save you a ton. Yes, at age 70 you may regret that but you've probably got a whole lot of years between now and then to reverse this decision. You may find an out-of-state bank a better place for your savings than the one you currently have. I keep both a NY and SC account because New York's savings interest rates are much higher.

My PayPal account makes it a cinch to transfer money (and at no charge.) I pay just about everything online. Saves me gas, or postage, or extra fees for not mailing it out on time. Even though I live alone I cook a lot of casseroles or crock pot meals rather than the lean cuisine and one time only stuff I used to pay more for. Perhaps I eat the same meal two or three times a week but it saves me a great deal of money I was spending on prepackaged foods.

Taking Your Home Based Business Opportunity on the Road - for Less

If you're traveling and it's not the holidays and you're not going to be staying in an area whose hotels are sold out due to homecoming or a major conference or event, stop at that state's welcome center as you cross the border. Pick up the hotel discount books available at the indoor or outdoor rack locations. Here you will find the best discounts anywhere! The catch? You can't make a reservation. What I do is call before I get off the exit of my choice. Hey, I'm 20 minutes away.

Do you have a room? " No, they won't save it for you but if they're full it will save you gas off and on the exit. And the next exit and the one after that undoubtedly have at least a couple of hotel discounts offered in that handy little coupon book.

What Does the Opportunity to Save Money Have to do with Growing Your Home Based Business?

Start a list of expenses. Brainstorm with yourself and others about how to wheedle a few dollars off each expense. I bet there's $100 or more available somewhere each month. With this money you could run a continual small business ad for your home based opportunity firm in your local paper.(Make sure you ask about contract rates for a continual run or bulk space committment! ) Just think what that might bring in! You might find the money for printing and postage for a direct mail campaign, or the finances to rent an e-mail or snail mail list.

You and your creativity - your greatest home business resource!