Looking to save a bit of money in the year ahead? As a business owner, the more money you save, the more of your money you can put back into your business. But where do you start? Finding ways to save money on a tight budget can be challenging when you’re already living a pretty frugal lifestyle, but you might be surprised how quickly small changes can add up to big savings by the end of the year.

Here are 10 easy ways to save money on a tight budget and make an extra $5,000 or more every year:

1. Avoid the Idiot Tax: Unnecessary expenses include parking tickets, late fees, and overdraft fees add up quickly and can be eliminated completely by carefully reading street signs, managing your calendar, and scheduling important events. Savings: $720
2. Pack Your Lunch: Convenience costs money, so bring your lunch or carry snacks with you instead of eating out or stopping at convenience stores. Savings: $1,040
3. Control Your Vices: Cigarettes, lottery tickets, and alcoholic drinks put an unnecessary dent in your wallet. Make a conscious effort to cut down (if not quit altogether) on impulse-driven, nonessential items. The money you’ll save will be worth more than you’re ever likely to win on those weekly scratchers, and cutting down on your other vices can help you feel healthier and more energetic as you try to manage your business. Savings: $600
4. Right-size Your Tech: Be realistic about your phone, media, and entertainment needs. Do you really need all those bells and whistles? Become familiar with the details of your cell phone plan and cable bill, then streamline features to suit your needs. Rather than subscribing to cable services that include all the premium channels, save big with subscriptions to services like Netflix or Hulu, with lower barriers to entry. Savings: $720
5. Play Outside: Instead of springing for weekend getaways that require hotel stays, pack your tent and head out for a camping trip to your local national park. Skip the pricey gym membership, and take up hiking, jogging, or swimming to stay fit on the cheap. Or, join a local sports league and get in an awesome workout while you make new friends. Even an investment in a treadmill or other piece of at-home exercise equipment will pay for itself quickly and allow you to exercise any time in any weather in the privacy of your own home. Savings: $240
6. Go to the Library: Public libraries offer numerous money-saving benefits, from free or significantly reduced rates on CD and DVD rentals to free tickets to local events or attractions. Savings: $120
7. Cancel Unused Subscriptions: It’s easy to sign up for a “free trial” and then forget it will self-renew. Subscriptions you don’t use or can’t justify in your budget are taking money right out of your wallet. Savings: $120
8. Renegotiate Your Financial Commitments: Start by looking for better interest rates and lowering the payments on your student loans and credit cards. Sure, lenders might deny your request, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask, and you might just be surprised by what they can offer you. Savings: $1,200
9. Consider Renting Out a Room: If you have the space, consider renting out a room via Airbnb or a similar service during high demand times in your area, or share the space you’re already using by finding a roommate to pick up half the rent. Savings: $800
10. Set a Weekly Budget: Take out cash, and use only that. It’s very easy to overspend when you use your debit/credit card, but when you see the cash dwindling in your wallet, you become much more thoughtful of what you spend. Savings: Limitless!

Even a small step can lead to big changes and, in this case, even bigger savings. Many of these money saving ideas are easy to implement, and they could provide benefits that go well beyond the money you’ll save, such as financial freedom for you and your family. Most importantly, living within your means can reduce the additional stress you have to manage as you work to keep your growing business healthy. Every cent you save is just one more penny you can use to help your company reach its goals.

When an entrepreneur gets an idea for a business, investments need to be made into the idea to make it a reality.  Investment is not only a reference to financial backing, but personal time, planning and energy.  At Cydcor, we believe today’s job seekers should look to entrepreneurship for inspiration on making career decisions.  Treating your resume like a business plan is the best way to create a career that is fulfilling.  Starting out can be overwhelming, so it is important to plan and build a winning resume that will get the attention of the employers you want to work for.

Start out by deciding on the job you want the most, then work your way backwards.  For example, if you want to be a chief executive officer of a sales and consulting company like Cydcor, then trace the step of the current CEO of the company you like and of its competitors.  Learn what skills you need, such as leadership, communication, finance and project management.  You can improve those skills through school or various projects.  Make a list of skills you need, and the various job titles that will get you the necessary experience, all the way back to the beginning.

Here are some tips on investing in your resume and creating the career you want:

1. Keep a record of every accomplishment.  Certificates, projects, volunteer work can all help you showcase any skills you develop along the way.
2. Join relevant professional groups.  Meetings of Young Professionals or other industry related associations can improve your network and give you more ideas about what career paths to pursue.
3. Take initiative.  Start a website or club, write a book or organize an event to get the experience you want.
4. Treat every job like it is the best job you’ve ever had.  Taking pride in your work will project reliability, good work ethic and capability to others.
5. Read plenty of books by people in your field, keep up with industry news, and become an expert in your industry.

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