Here are some other tips and tricks to save money that I’ve come across and been able to take advantage of.

• Free movie screenings - Many theaters run free movie screenings and usually advertise them during the day.  The AMC Loews at 68th Street is a particularly good source and I try to pass by often and see if someone is hawking passes.  The people doing this often get tired of soliciting folks so I go right up to them to inquire what they have.  Tonight I’m going to a free screening of “The Road” with Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Thereon. I’ll bring in a soda and licorice to save money, but may splurge for popcorn.

• Mystery shopping - These advertisements can seem rather sketchy, and many of them advertised directly seem like scams.  I signed up directly through my bank to be a mystery shopper.  You get paid anywhere from $15-$25 for a visit, and they only take 30 minutes or so.  An added benefit is that in going through the “shops” you can learn a lot about additional benefits as you test the banker’s skills.  I got my interest rate increased substantially when I said I was unemployed and was looking for ways to increase my savings.

• Enjoying credit card points - I used to run up a lot of points on credit cards when I was working.  Many credit cards will let you take out an advance of points. I take out $5000 points advances for $50 gift cards, and have about a year to pay back the points.  I turn all my points into restaurant gift cards or Barnes & Noble cards.  The restaurant cards allow me to have a nice meal for only the price of the tip.  I use the Barnes & Noble cards for new books, and then sell them back to The Strand. The Strand only pays $2-$3 for books that are in demand and in good condition, but every little bit helps.

-By Janet Raiffa, Guest Blogger & Recruiting Manager