If you are like many others in today’s tough economic environment, you’re looking to put a little extra cash in your wallet. Whether you are looking to supplement an existing income, or start making money, it is a daunting task to determine ways to make more money to make ends meet. Yet it can be easy, if you just use your creativity and find a way to start saving with what you already have.
Ways to Earn Extra Cash
Turn Your Trash Into Someone’s Treasure
One of the quickest ways to get a little extra cash is to sell things that you no longer use or need to people who do need them. You can host a garage or yard sale to sell extra clothing, baby items, furniture, appliances, kitchen tools, or other items. You can leverage either auction or exchange websites to post and sell your items to others who are in need. Sell your broken iPhone or put that old record collection up on Ebay. All you need is a camera and a computer with internet access, and you are in business!
Freelance Opportunities
Many of us enjoy photography, writing, or other forms of art. You can monetize these skills by finding opportunities for freelancing your skills and getting paid. Many families are looking for affordable photographers to document their children’s special events like birthday parties, school field days, or graduations. Many companies pay freelance developers to develop websites or writers to create content for their websites or other marketing collateral. Or, you can come up with your own blog site and make money from it.
Caring For Others’ Loved Ones
One sure way to make some money is to offer your services to help care for your neighbors babies or kids, aging parents, loved ones, or animals. Do some quick advertising by printing some fliers and posting them in local businesses offering your services. The phone will likely start to ring and within days, you may find yourself busy caring for new friends, and making extra money to boot. If you love dogs, get started with DogVacay.com- create a free profile, set your own rates, decide which dogs to take and when and let DogVacay send you customers!
Cleaning Homes or Grooming Lawns
Many busy professionals outsource services such as cleaning their homes, or cutting their lawns. This is a great opportunity for you to make some extra cash while doing something for which others are willing to pay. Create some fliers and post them in local businesses or put them in your neighbor’s mailboxes and offer the services that you can provide.
As you can see, there are many ways to be creative and innovative when looking for opportunities for making some extra money. Spend some time brainstorming what skills you have and what you enjoy doing, and think of a creative way to make money doing it! It can be very easy and you could have extra money in your pocket in no time. Good luck!
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written by: Brooke Chaplan
Some tips for placing an item for sale on Craigslist. Take a nice picture of the item to include in your ad. Write up a clever ad to get people’s attention and to set it apart from others selling the same item. Also research the item to see what it is going for both used and brand new so you can be competetive then mention that in your ad. For example, “same (item name) goes for double the price at Target brand new.” This helps people to see what a good deal they are getting, especially if the item is in good shape. This advice is tried and true. I have sold many items using these tips!! Good luck!!
Love the idea of mentioning how much the item normally sells for…I’ll have to try that next time.
I have been selling items that I no longer use on Craigslist. This is a two fold winner. I clean out my house and make some extra money at the same time. To be safe, because in this day and age you never know, my husband meets the buyer at a public place. So far everyone has been more than nice but it can’t hurt to be cautious.
Great advice and it helps with the “scary” part of Craigslist!