Earn extra cash before tax time

While you may be fantasizing about the small renovation you've been planning forever or hanging ten on Hawaiian vacay you’ll take with a tax refund, the reality is that many of us won’t get anything back from filing taxes. We might owe money. Building up a little cushion of cash can mean the difference between being able to pay what you owe at tax time - and fretting about it for months as the interest charges add up. Here are some ideas to help your piggy bank grow. 
Don’t pay too much for gas It’s tempting to get gas from the station near you, but that’s often not the cheapest. Use the GasBuddy app to find the least expensive gas in your area - and save up to 20%. 
Ditch costly impulse buys Practice the five-second rule: Before you put anything in your cart, wait five seconds, during which time consider whether it's a need or a want. Chances are it's a want. Or, don't use a cart - you can only buy what you can carry.
Sell your stuff  Got some outgrown toddler toys or sports equipment that you won't use? List it for sale on Craigslist; declutter and make money - it's a no brainer! 
Use cash No credit or debit cards allowed! 
Pick up a side gig Pick up a side gig like landscaping, babysitting or house cleaning in your spare time. You can use a site TaskRabbit.com to find work, or tap into your social media network to ask people if they need any help, or pass the word on that you are looking.