Over the years, I’ve taken on extra jobs or flipped yard sale finds on eBay to bring in a little extra income. But every now and then it’s nice to generate some passive income: money you can make with little-to-no effort. With Parkatmyhouse.com, you can generate income simply by letting people park in any extra space in your driveway or garage. Read more to learn about this new and innovative service.

Building a savings account isn’t easy. But it’s also not hard. Unfortunately, many people begin building their savings accounts operating under some common misconceptions that may be more detrimental to your finances than they are beneficial. To make the most out of your saving goals, reconsider these four financial myths:

It’s clear: E-readers are here to stay. I’m dipping my toe in oh so slowly, reading most of my non-fiction on my iPad’s Kindle app. The longer e-readers are around, the more affordable they become. But the books you read on them are getting more expensive. Luckily, you can keep control of your reading budget by finding e-books for free. Here are three great places to start your search for an entertaining, budget-maintaining read:

Blue Ivy Carter, the newborn daughter of hip-hop icons Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and Beyoncé Knowles, has had a very lavish and luxurious beginning. Her parents, who enjoy unbelievable wealth, have bestowed on Baby Blue a $15,000 Swarovski-studded highchair, a $20,000 Coach carriage/crib, and the kicker, a $600,000 rocking-horse made of pure gold.

Believe it or not, the splurge carries an important lesson about budgeting for your baby and your future with a child. Keep reading…

The last time you were at the grocery store, did the cashier give you a receipt? How about a fast food joint? Movie theater? Some places won’t give you receipts unless you ask for them, and you should every time. Hanging onto your receipts won’t only make it easier to track all of your transactions, it may help you save money. Here’s how:

Editor’s Note: As part of a special project on The PerkStreet Blog, we’re offering free question and answer columns every week with Customer Columnists Clint and Katy Davis of Davis Coaching. If you have a question you’d like to submit to get advice from these financial coaches, email it to editors@perkstreet.com.

Dear Clint and Katy

My wife and I are working to become Debt-Free using the debt snowball plan, and we’re making good progress. The problem is, we just discovered that she is pregnant (due in July). We’re very excited; however, we found out that she will not get paid maternity leave when the baby comes. We need to come up with $3,500.00 in savings just to allow her to take the time off when needed. In addition, the debt we are paying off totals $9,179.25. We are currently paying $200.00 over the minimum on one credit card. How can we pay off our debt as well as save up for our baby? What do you recommend?

As we explained earlier this month, a person’s net worth is determined by the sum of their assets – the things they own (i.e., their house, car, valuables) – and their debts – the things they owe (i.e. to credit card companies and mortgage lenders).

But interestingly enough, new research indicates that those who are “in the black,” owning more in assets than they owe in debt, perceive the accumulation of debt much differently than those “in the red,” whose debts outweigh their assets. If you’re wondering why debt can keep growing and growing so easily, click above and keep reading.

With the New Year in full-swing, resolutions trying the most steadfast of intentions, and the winter weather finally revealing itself here in New England, let’s turn our attention to maximizing the amount of cash back in your wallet. In honor of Valentine’s Day and of tax season, this month’s poll options are of course sweet and smart.

We’ve also thrown some big names in there for online-only purchases. Vote for your top 2 and we’ll make sure that your February is full of 5% cash back on debit. Read more…

Time for a Pop Quiz (it’s only one question): Did year-end expenses catch you by surprise in 2011? If you answered yes, you might have to re-think your budgeting skills. If you make changes to your monthly budget, you can avoid the last minute stress and scramble as the New Year strikes. Read more to find out how it’s done.

If any of your 2012 resolutions were related to financial goals, your iPhone or Android can help you get there. These simple apps will help you organize your accounts and keep track of your spending, putting your finances right at your fingertips. Set real goals and have constant, hands-on access to your progress as you get closer and closer to reaching them. Click to check out these four financial apps.