Increasing Revenue, Not Just Decreasing Costs

I've always considered myself an excellent shopper, sometimes to the extreme of being a bit too cautious (see previous post). I'm always looking for ways to save money and to find pleasures that don't involve large expenses. Fortunately, I've been able to find many things that I enjoy that are as simple as enjoying a sunset or enjoying a waterside area.

But saving money isn't enough. If you take this too far, it starts to feel like deprivation, as my wife has warned me. There also has to be a focus on increasing income. It's not one or the other - it's a combination of both. It's only recently that I've started to focus more on the revenue side, such as starting to sell on eBay and pursuing tax lien certificates. This has been a difficult leap for me. It's easy to keep doing what you're good at (saving money); it's harder to develop new skills (finding ways to generate more income). But I'm determined to keep moving forward in both areas.