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Raising $25,000 to $50,000 for an adoption (or any other reason,for that matter!) can seem like a daunting task, especially if you income is in the mid to low range. However, there are ways you can add to that baby fund, without working yourself into an early grave! Even the simplest of changes in you lifestyle can have a big impact on that bank balance. Here are a few basics:

• Clip those coupons! Clipping coupons (and I’m not talking ‘extreme couponing’ here!) from the Sunday paper and joining a couponing website can cut your grocery shop by 25%. In our household that’s $1,300 per year! Just make sure you are only buying the items you would normally use!
•  Eating out??? Taking lunch to work with you, instead of eating out every day can also have a big impact. If my husband and I both do this, we save $80 per week……..that’s a staggering $4160 per year!!!!! Yes, making sandwiches can be a pain, but it’s definitely worth the effort!
• De clutter the house! It’s amazing how much ‘stuff’ we all have stashed away in our closets, attics and every other little used area of our houses. Sort through it all. As a general rule, if you haven’t used something for 2 years+, then you do not need it! Sell it, either to a second hand store/dealer (depending on item), put it on e-bay, or have a yard sale! (Read here for an example of my own efforts!)
• Speaking of yard sales……..don’t be afraid to ask for donations! Your friends and aquaintances may not be able to give you hard cash, but most are more than willing to hand over the unwanted items from their own closets. Collect it in your garage, then when you have enough for a huge yard sale, pop an advert in the paper, call your local radio station and ask for a free mention (you will have to pull the sympathy card to do this, but whatever works right??) and round up a few good friends to come help. You will be suprised by how much money you can make! After all, ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure’.
• Feeling Crafty??? If you are one of those fortunate people who can turn scraps into outstanding works of art, then do it! Turn those hobbies into money spinners. Use social networking sites (facebook, twitter) to advertise, get your friends and co-workers to spread the word and start selling! Get yourself a little Etsy store or blog site running and watch those $’s roll in. Just be mindful of your states ‘home business’ laws and make sure you keep all of those reciepts for tax purposes. Read ‘Complete Idiot’s Guide to Selling Your Crafts’ as a good starting point (available here).
• Can You Write?? If writing is your thing, there are plenty of websites out there that will pay you to report on a variety of topics. Most of them won’t contract you in so you are not obliged to write two to three articles a week. They mostly just send you an e-mail asking if you would like to take on a certain article and it’s up to you whether you do or not! Far less stressful that way. (Constant Content, Associated Content, Demand Studios, About.com, Daily Article are a few of the more trusted sites to write for!) Equally, if your sense of humour is your strong point, why not write captions for greetings cards?? Design, Design, Designer Greetings, Noble Works, and Oatmeal Studios are a few of the better companies to write for!
• If you are a budding photographer, then sell some of your best images to online companies. There are numerous sites that will buy your snaps. Click here for some options!
• Raffles! Get in touch with some local businesses and see if you can blag some raffle prizes. Raffles are a great way to make money – especially if you are a ‘social butterfly’ and have plenty of willing participants!!!
• Ask your local Church/Social Clubs to get involved! Churches will quite often hold fundraising events on your behalf…..but you have to swallow the pride and ask for the help in the first place!

I realise this list can appear a little overwhelming! But when faced with the costs of adoption, you will find you can turn your hand to just about anything to fulfill the dream. And remember, the more you earn up front, the more of that giant tax rebate you will have left to spoil your little angel with when he or she arrives.

Happy Fundraising!