A common complaint among workers today is that they are not earning enough money.  While the concept of living within your means is admirable, sometimes, it’s just not doable.  Why is it that some people earn money hand over fist while others struggle to make and keep their first dime?  Mostly, it’s in their attitude toward money, and how they handle the responsibility that goes with it.

Following are nine ways to improve your relationship with money, and help you earn more.

1. Change your attitude toward money.  Money is not evil; people are sometimes evil in their quest for, or use of, money.  But money can also be used in good service.  Ask people who tithe faithfully to their church and they will tell you that money is essential for good works.
2. Lose your rescue fantasy.  No one is coming on a white stallion, or black Porsche, (or any other mode of transportation for that matter), to pay off your credit card debts, build a new house for you to live in, on the beach, in the Bahamas, while you live happily ever after with no strings attached.  When you find yourself drifting off into fantasy land, replace it with the thought, “If it’s meant to be, it is up to me.”  Then dive back in to work.
3. Ask for what you want.  If you want to make more money in your current job, ask for more responsibility.  Show initiative and start volunteering to do more before you’re asked.  If you see something that needs to be done, do it.  Your efforts will likely  be noticed, but keep a list of everything you do, just in case.  After six months of honest effort, if you’re not rewarded with a raise and/or promotion, go to your immediate supervisor with the list of things you’ve contributed to the company, and ask for a raise.  If your contributions are appreciated and you have made yourself a valuable employee, you’ll more than likely be thrilled with the results.  If you’re turned down for a raise, ask what you can do to earn more.  The employers I know would be thrilled to have such an employee.
4. Be willing to do the work.  Most people make the mistake of expecting the reward (raise) to precede the work.  We assume that the salary we’re currently earning pays us to do only certain tasks, and that if the company wants more, they’re going to have to pay us more.  It doesn’t work that way.  You must first prove that you are capable of handling more responsibility, and that you can accomplish results.  What are you doing to improve the company’s bottom line?  Are you getting customers in the door?  Are you saving the company money somehow?  Have you increased sales volume with your charm and wit?  Whatever it is, again, keep a list.  The company’s decision makers will notice the increased profits, and if you can prove you are, in some way, at least partially responsible, you should be rewarded.
5. Get an eBay account.  Stuck at your current salary for a while?  Most people have lots of extra stuff sitting around cluttering up their homes and their minds. Yard sales are passé.  Set up an eBay account and sell anything you don’t use on a regular basis, or love.  Remember, clutter around you creates clutter in your brain.  Maybe if you get rid of the clutter in your brain you’ll be able to think of more ways to make money!
6. Monetize your hobby.  Is there something you love to do in your spare time?  Find a way to make money from it.  At the very least, you could start blogging about it and monetize your blog.  Many people have done this already and some have even turned blogging into a full-time income.
7. Save as much as you can.  “A penny saved is a penny earned,” said Benjamin Franklin.  Start thinking of it that way – literally.  When you find a way to save money on something you buy on a regular basis, think to yourself, “I just made an extra $3.”  How long did it take you to do the research?  Thirty minutes on the internet?  Then you just increased your hourly salary by $6 per hour.  Getting motivated to start saving?
8. Invest wisely.  A penny saved is a nickel earned (or more) in the right investment fund, portfolio, or savings account.  If you’re new to saving and investing, simply call your bank and find out what type of accounts pay interest and what the requirements are.  Then do what you can.  As you accumulate more money, you’ll have more options available to you.  If your company offers any type of retirement account, participate in it – whether they match funds or not.  Investing is a huge topic where there’s much to learn and be taught.  To keep this post brief, I’m simply going to command you to do it.  Find something that you understand, that’s safe and secure, and put your money away.  (Don’t gamble or invest in get rich quick schemes, and don’t play the stock market until you have thousands and know what you’re doing.)
9. Stop spending your future today.  I know it’s a bad time of year to discuss the use of revolving credit, but if you’re spending your future earnings, how are you ever going to get ahead?  Here’s a hint:  you’re not.  You can’t.  It’s not you, it’s a fact.  Spend your money faster than you make it and you will never earn enough.  It’s a bad habit that’s difficult to break, and it sets you up for long-term financial hardship.  A penny saved is not a penny earned if, at the end of the day, you still owe a dime.

Your Assignment

Of the nine ways to earn more money listed above, is there one that stands out that you know you should do, but you’re thinking you’ll deal with it “later?”  If so, do that one first.  It’s the things that we avoid doing that, if we did them when we should, would propel us to greater success.  So do the hard thing; it will be worth it.

Posted under Motivation