This is the first weekend that I am not traveling or have soccer refereeing. Because my weekends to this point have left little time for anything else, I’ve got a list of things to get accomplished to save or make money. So here is the list to keep me motivated.
Master Bathroom Toilet is Running
I think the flapper is not sitting properly. These cost about $5 – $10 to replace. First, I will clean the current one and see if that helps. If not, I will buy a new one and install. This should save me around $100 by not calling a plumber. The good news is it is not leaking and still flushes properly, so I have some time to test solutions.
Water Filtration System in Refrigerator is not Working Properly
I put the bypass cap back in to confirm nothing was stuck in the line. This worked. I think it is not sealing properly when I put the filter in, so I will buy a new o-ring. They run from $1 to $5. I can’t say how much I will save by fixing this and not having a repairman come out, but I bet it is significant. We have a Brita pitcher, so no rush on this either.
Buy My Wife’s Birthday Present
I got a bike last year and really enjoy riding. So, I am looking at buying her a bike as well. She is less active than me, so I am looking for a good deal on Craigslist. I have my eye on one listed for $100. It retails new for $400. Note: she is aware of this purchase and agrees with going the used bike route. Anyone have any other birthday present suggestions?
Save Money at Wife’s Work Get-Together Tonight
My wife has a going away dinner for one of her co-workers. Her and I will hit a happy hour for half price appetizers before the 6 o’clock dinner and then share a salad.
Get Quotes for Leaky Skylight
We noticed water leaking around one of our skylights. I like to tackle most projects myself, but the roof is not one of them. We have one quote of $325 to fix the flashing around the skylight. We have another roofer coming out tomorrow. The first quote is from a company that came out last year, so we negotiated a $50 discount since the caulking they did last summer didn’t work. So, we are out $275 at most. I will, however, have to do a little patchwork on the ceiling drywall and paint. I don’t think drywall will have to be replaced, so it should be another $10 for joint compound and paint.
Make/Save Extra Money to Pay for Skylight
I hate unexpected costs like this. Therefore, when one does pop up, I do my best to make up the money in an additional way. I am researching what else I can do to make up the $275.
- Pick up more guitar lessons – I make $80 a month per student. So if I can pick up 3 to 4 students, I am covered in a month. Now is the right time because parents tend to look for activities for their children in the summer.
- Research freelancing opportunities – I have not yet ventured into freelancing yet, but will check into areas for opportunity this weekend. If you own a blog or know someone who does, I am available for hire! Just shoot me an email.
- Complete a couple of tasks on Gigwalk – Most pay about $5 per task and take about 20 minutes. We do our shopping on Sundays, so I will sign up today for tasks close to where we will be.
- Check Craigslist gigs – I get a kick out of the various help wanted posts on Craigslist. Be careful if/when you choose to outreach for a posting and make sure to meet the person in a public place if you get to the point where they will hire you. Also, insist on a cash payment and see if you can get some amount up front. I will come upon music performance requests or website needs and can make some quick cash.
- Review cell phone bill – I won’t go into details of our current bill. We don’t spend a lot, but I think we could find a cheaper plan that fits our needs better.
- Review refinancing options for rental property – We have made the decision to keep our rental property long-term. We were on the fence because we didn’t know if we would move too far away after my wife finishes residency. Now, we at least know we will be close enough to maintain it and have enough money on hand to get a good refinance deal. Of course, this will take more than the weekend to find the best deal for us, but I am starting the process. We could save up to $450 a month.
That is my weekend of saving and making money. I hope you enjoy yours!
Any good weekend plans for saving or making a buck? Any suggestions for me on ways to make some money to pay for the skylight repair?