Success Through Inspiration

Money.

There is never enough. You spend what you make. Prices are going up, raises are going down.

Say it however you want, we all need more money.

There are only so many hours in a day, but there are ways to make extra money that don’t include getting a second job.

I’ve decided to really think about it, and have put together my list of:

FIVE EASY WAYS TO MAKE EXTRA MONEY.

When I say “easy”, I don’t mean make millions of dollars sitting in your underwear at home watching television. There is no “magic secret” to becoming filthy rich.

It will take a bit of work on your part – but you will get out what you put in.

So, here is my list, in no particular order. Some ideas you might like, some you might not. Some ideas might lead you to other ideas – if they do, let me know.

1. Do what you do for a living, but do it on the side.

Don’t think you are good at anything to do on the side? Don’t think your regular job could make any money on the side? Well, think again. You get paid for doing your day job. What is it? Nurse? Accountant? Chef? Stockbroker? There are people that need your services, but do not want to pay top business dollar for it. Ask around – you’d be surprised. Don’t think you have the time? Cut out watching television for an hour each evening. Ask for twenty dollars an hour. Doesn’t seem like much, but – believe me – it adds up.

2. Sell stuff on ebay.

OK – hear me out on this one. I’m not the “get rich and make a living selling on ebay” kind of person. Let’s get serious. You have junk in your basement. List it and see what happens! What’s the worst that can happen? You sell an old typewriter for ten bucks, and make another ten on shipping? Takes a half hour of your Saturday to wrap it up and ship it? Like I said – the money adds up over time. Go to garage sales on the weekend, pick up odds and ends for a quarter here and a quarter there, sell it on ebay. Make a few extra bucks.

3. Sell your hobby

This one is for the crafty.  If you are good at craft, enjoy doing it as a hobby, you might also enjoy doing it for profit.  If you paint, stitch, sew, etc., see if a local craft store will sell your wares for you.  Possible a small art or pottery store will.  You will be surprised how many small shops are open to selling items from local “artists”.  You will have to give them a cut, but, you’ll get paid as well.

4.  Odd jobs

This is a tough one – especially for me – since I have limited free time.  I have a friend that loves doing odd jobs – along with his normal day job, he pet sits, walks dogs, house sits, runs errands for people, and sells insurance.  I’m not saying to go after more than you can handle.  If there is someone elderly in your neighborhood who needs their dogs cared for, volunteer (for a price, of course).  Go shopping for someone.  Wash cars.  Paint a house.  Give a massage.  Fix computers.  If you have the entrepreneurial spirit, I am sure you can find the opportunities out there.

5.  Affiliates on the internet

This one was a motivation for me to start this blog.  It has not really worked out well for me yet, but I found that I enjoy writing even if I don’t make any money.  Start a blog or a web site, and add affiliate marketing on the site.  Commission Junction is a good place to sign up for getting ads placed on your site, as is Google Adwords.  You have to add content to your site to draw readership, but it can be done.  Write about what you know.  About your hobbies, your experience, your life.

If all of these ideas don’t seem like they add up to much money, try it. Take your “winnings” and put them in a jar for six months. Or a year. Stick the money in a savings account. Five dollars here and ten dollars there doesn’t seem like much, but, at the end of the year when you have $2,500 sitting in a cookie jar – now that’s a good downpayment on a new car.

Let me know how it works for you.