I would like to have you post as many ideas as you can for ways to earn extra money. Sorry, we've got to keep it clean!
I don't want to place a bunch of restrictions on this but I don't want it to turn in to an advertising forum either. This is just your own personal ideas at this forum.
I'll try to make a place for those classifieds later.
I sell things on EBAY, but I think it is important to point out that this is not EASY money. There is a lot of work, and research is very important. It can however, be a family operation where everyone contributes, whether packing and shipping, cleaning, photograping, describing or just organizational skills are being used. Getting the little ones to cull their toys, and teaching them that only those in good shape offer a return can help teach lessons about money and taking care of things.
Re: Legitimate Ways To Earn Money
I work as a "spotter" for my sister who sells things on Ebay. My husband and I enjoy going to yard sales and estate sales for cheap entertainment anyway, so now I keep my eyes open for things I know my sister likes to purchase for resale. I buy them as inexpensively as possible, she purchases them from me for at least double what I pay, and then does all the hard work to list, sell, and ship them via Ebay, so she certainly deserves all the profit she might make.
So if you know someone who sells on Ebay, they might be interested in making a similar arrangement with you. You have to educate yourself on what to look for, but I find I end up making a few extra dollars for doing something I enjoy anyway.
Legitimate ways to earn money
Since I do not drive all my ways are home based. I babysit.
Also simple crafts ,can be sold in yardsales. Yardsales themselves. I have been the dumping place for alot of stuff my family no longer wants ,they know I ned money and they need to clean house,it works for all. I clean and yardsale what I can and the rest goes to a battered womens shelter. They estimated I gave them $5,000.00 worth last year .I love giving as well as recieving so I have fun in my money making projects... JAN in NC
Ways to make money
I make extra money by marketing my skills. In my case, I am an RN who is also a CPR instructor. I call companies/facilities/businesses who want an instructor to come to them, and I can make up to $25.00 per person. I realize this is unique to the medical profession, but perhaps others have skills that they can market; I know that the medical profession looks for experienced typists for temp work.
ways to make extra money
I sell books on www.half.com (a division of ebay) and have made over $600 in about 3 years. It's different from e-bay because you set a firm price, rather than people bidding. You don't need a digital camera or photos.
Other ideas: housecleaning; sell your services as an "errand runner" for people who are housebound or don't have a car; pick up aluminum cans when you are out walking and cash them in at the recycling center; have a yard sale at least once a year, and in addition to your "priceless junk", sell refreshments. I stock up on drinks as they are on sale for several weeks prior to my sale, and buy multi-packs of snack cakes, individual bags of chips, etc. I then sell them for about double what they cost me -- and usually make an extra $20 from the "concession stand" each time I have a yard sale!
Re: ways to make extra money
I've opened my home to foster kids, adding respite kiddos on week ends too. Not the easiest way to add income, but it works if you're frugal.
HoustonMomoftwo
Unregistered User
(1/8/06 8:35 pm) Reply
Ways of making money
I've done a few jobs at Guru.com, they seem to be fairly reputable and claim National Geographic as one of their customers ... if you can handle doing internet searches, typing up data on Excel or doing a bit of research for someone, it can pay fairly well.
I like using them mainly because I can bid for a job when I want to, and when things get hectic, I can back off for a bit until I'm ready to work again (having two toddlers at home means i can't devote to a job full time!)
Re: Ways of making money
If you have a spare bedroom then being a host-parent to foreign language students certainly pays well here in New Zealand. Of course you need to be on a bus-route (or other public transport route) between your home and the language schools. I did it for several years (was a single Mum of 2 girls so only ever had female students) and 5 years ago they paid $180 per week full board. It used to cost a maximum of $50 per week to feed them (usually less though) and a bit of extra electricity, and the rest can go straight onto your bills.
Check in your local phone directory under Language Schools
I bake cakes it was great when I working at my factory(laid off right now) Someone was always having a birthday or an occassion. Well my unemployment ran out and I am working about 14 hours at the local Pizza King and I mentioned that I do cakes so I make cakes for them they pay me and sell them by the slice. I am hoping this 'gets the word out' and I get more people interested. I also do crafts so I am hoping to get a bunch done and have them ready for a 4th of July thing they have at our park or for our festival in September ( James Dean is from our town and they have a festival in his honor every year)
Re: Legitimate Ways To Earn Money
I house sit and garden sit , I don't make much money, but I get perks. When I garden sit, I look after someones yard, cut grass and water, I get free vegetables, and fruit. I have also looked after animals at the 2 homes I care for in the summer. I took early retirement, so getting free eggs, vegetables, fruit and occasionally meat is as good as cash to me.
I also sew, and ended up making a cover for a papa san chair to make it look better in someones home. I didn't advertise for this, but word of mouth told them that I could sew. I made a little cash with that. I have also put up hems on pants for friends and saved them from going to a tailor. You can set your own prices, I usually barter so I don't have to pay for something else.
My neighbour knits childrens sweaters, hats, mitts and scarfs and sells them at craft sales in the fall of each year. She makes very good money, and buys her materials on sale, at yard sales, and sometimes is gifted wool and yarn from would be knitters. One of her biggest sellers is dishcloths.
Make money
Everyone on this forum has (access to) a computer and e-mail. If you have an area of expertise, why not try freelance writing? If there are magazines that are of interest to you, you can usually get their submission guidelines on their websites and submit article proposals by e-mail. It might take a bit of time to build some experience, starting by writing articles for e-zines before "graduating" to print publications. If it is one of your areas of special interest, you can make money from something that you enjoy!
If you are skilled in a particular area, you could also consider tutoring students who need help in that area.
Places like The Learning Annex pay people to give seminars in their areas of expertise. It takes some creativity and a good marketing "hook". Or create your own independent seminars or lecture series.
Large stores that sell supplies for various activities often offer classes or seminars on the activities. You could get paid for giving these seminars. Teach cake-decorating at the shop that sells the baking supplies. "How to Build a Fence" at Home Depot or your local shop. Window boxes at the garden supply shop. Jewelery-making at the craft shop.
Be creative with what you are good at. People will pay for your expertise!
Fragrance companies hire independent demonstators to work in department stores and pay considerably above minimum wage ($12/hr and up). Who hasn't been attacked by the "squirters" when you are trying to get into the store to go shopping? Ask them who their area manager is and then call to let them kow that you are interested in working as a demonstrator. I did that all through college. It can be sporadic, since the most work is available around the peak buying holidays: Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's and Father's Day. You might be sent to various stores in your area. One of the advantages is that since you are in the store often, you see unadvertised specials and mark-downs and can keep your eye on things that you are planning to buy, watching for sales.
If you are a good shopper (and everyone here is, since we are interested in getting the best prices, right?) and you have good fashion sense, you could try working as a personal shopper. With so many dual-income households where both people work, it can be very advantageous to have someone go out and scout in the shops for the best clothes, shoes, and accessories for busy working professionals. There are many ways that this type of service can operate, so it would take some research to determine the best way for you to offer this service on a personal basis (instead of being tied to one store).
Further to that, an emerging trend in clothing shopping is "trunk shows". If you have a good network of potential buyers, you work as a rep for various independent designers and offer their collections (clothing, costume jewelery, accessories). It is like other home-based party selling (think Mary Kay or Tupperware) but instead of trying to sell one product to a bunch of people, you sell a bunch of different products to a group. You work like an independent rep or agent that will distribute the products to your buyers and the people that make them will come to you to get access to your buyers. Your buyers will always come to your "trunk shows" to see the latest and greatest that you have because it is different than the same old stuff that anyone could buy in a store. You can work it all out on your own to suit yourself instead of being tied to one company's plan. More work, but more flexibility and a bigger cut for you. It would probably work with other types of merchandise, as well.
boxxies
Unregistered User
(1/16/06 10:54 am) Reply
re:ebay spotter
You know that's a pretty good idea.
At another discussion group I belong to, I posed the question about ideas for working at home. One woman replied that she does loan processing at home and if anyone was interested, to indicate that and she would reply with the information. I replied that I was interested and I am still waiting for the information. I may have to send her another email, but if and when I get the info., I will be glad to pass it along to all of you.
Re: Legitimate Ways To Earn Money
Great suggestions so far! I'm looking forward to reading more ideas.
HoustonMomoftwo~ How's guru.com work? That site interested, but intimidated me. Is it only for professionals? I don't have any formal schooling- I didn't go to college. If you don't mind me asking- what type of jobs have you done through there?
reece88~ I'd love to talk to you more about your cake baking. That's something I've wanted to try- I love to bake creative cakes for my sons' birthdays and have thought about trying to take "orders." I've also thought about doing more that just cakes- I make a few desserts that people just love.
I've had many ideas for working from home, unfortunately so far that's all they've amounted to since I haven't acted on them! Here's some ideas that I'd love to try that haven't been mentioned yet:
Party planner- I just co-hosted a baby shower and my friend's mom told me I should be a party planner- a lot of people (especially parents) would love to be able to throw a party without going through all the hassle of planning & preparing for it.
Make homemade cards/invitations- people will pay a premium price for customized one-of-a-kind items.
Consignment- I've heard that people can make a decent profit by taking good items to consignment shops. I've seen new & like new brand name items at garage sales & goodwill for cheap that would pay nicely.
I know there's more- I just can't remember them right now. Two things I do now that I could make a profit on if I "marketed" them are- I use Young Living essential oils and am a qualified distributor. Plus I converted my house to Melaleuca products because they are so much healthier & safer (not to mention cheaper!). I suppose I could also market my knowledge on the chemicals and side effects of common everyday products people use and the alternatives options they have.
Re: Legitimate Ways To Earn Money
I am a floorcovering installer and on the side I do restetches and repairs. Most of the time they do not take much time a people are so happy to get someone to do it that they are willing to pay very well.
itsleeann
Unregistered User
(2/5/06 9:33 pm) Reply
home loan processing
I'd like the information on doing the home loan processing jobs, if you receive it and would still like to pass it on. Thanks
LeeAnn
Taste of Home Entertaining
I just signed up to be a Taste of Home Entertaining consultant. They are owned by Reader's Digest so have a lot of financial backing. The founder is Bill Shaw, former president of Southern Living at Home. Everyone I talk to is so excited and can't wait to have parties and buy. I make 25% on everything I sell.
Anyway, direct sales are a great way to make extra money.
If you are interested, email me and I'll send you more info.
Re: Legitimate Ways To Earn Money
I work as a mystery shopper on the side. A lot of times I get paid for going to a store I would have gone to anyway. I also get reimbursed for meals out with my husband and occasionally get to go to the movies. One caveat, some of the evaluations can be long and tedious but each company is different.
Re: Legitimate Ways To Earn Money
Taste of Home Entertaining
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