Extra cash for tough times -- 50 ways to make it
By Toby Rosenstrauch
October 10, 2008
Gasoline prices are putting a big hole in every household budget. Rising costs of food and just about everything else are straining budgets even further.
Many people are having a tough time making ends meet. How to manage? Use creativity to find ways to make extra cash. Here are some moneymaking ideas you can try:
1. Child care: Saturday night babysitting is usually done by teenagers. Reliable and responsible daytime care for children is needed by working parents. There is a strong need for people who can arrive at 6 or 7 a.m. to serve breakfast to school-age children, see them safely on the school bus at 9, and return at 3 p.m. to supervise homework and activities until the parents return at 6 or 7 p.m.
2. Driving: Rent yourself out to drive to doctors, airports (make sure to have proper insurance coverage and licenses.) Provide delivery service for pharmacies or restaurants. Customers often give tips for this service.) Deliver circulars or newspapers.
3. Make and sell costume jewelry: Learn by taking a class or study instructional booklets at craft stores. Buy materials in bulk at bead stores or from mail order houses. Build inventory for craft shows and holiday sales. Learn the art of hand knotting. This leads to opportunities to do restringing service for individuals or jewelry stores.
4. Freelance travel agent: Training is often free. You get commissions. Regular hours are not required.
5. Teach an adult education course: Education degree is not required. Some districts offer training seminars at nominal cost. Consider hobbies and work experience to choose a subject.
6. Be a sales rep: For Avon, Tupperware, Amway, Mary Kay, and other companies. Conduct home parties for sales. These can include toys and lingerie.
7. Freelance writing: Write articles, books, children's stories, puzzles, resumes, and original personalized poems for special occasions. Read a book on freelance writing. Make sure to check submission guidelines, requested word counts, addresses, and current editors' names by going to the publisher's Web site before submitting. Be a stringer for a local newspaper. You do not need talent to report what went on at school or library board meetings, community activities, and events. You can also review restaurants, concerts, books, and plays.
8. House-sit: For vacationers or business travelers.
9. Pet services: Walk a dog. Board a pet for those who do not care to use kennels. Equip a small van and groom dogs by appointment.
10. Home health care: Assist the sick or elderly with cooking and/or shopping.
If you obtain certification as a home health aide you can work per diem for an agency. Single parent and/working parents often need help. Caregivers need relief sitters.
11. Aid handicapped college students: Read to blind students. Write exams or take notes for students unable to write. Contact the Student Services Department of the college nearest you.
12. Bookkeeping and accounting services: Per diem or part-time.
13. Computer work: By the hour or flat fee, type manuscripts, medical records, legal papers, and research, or do data entry. Provide editing or proofreading service if you are good in English, spelling, and grammar.
14. Research: Doctors, scholars, writers, and others often do not have the time or inclination to do it themselves. This involves a facility with library research materials, special collections, and databases.
15. Work for board of elections at polling places during national and local elections.
16. Sell ads for local newspapers and advertising publications such as Pennysavers.
17. Teacher's aide: In the classroom or school cafeteria. In some localities a special license may be required.
18. Run a Bed and Breakfast in your home if you live in an area frequented by tourists.
19. Become a consultant: What are you very good at? Sell your expertise and advice.
20. Home maintenance: Do House painting, interior or exterior. Do you know how to hang wallpaper? Are you good at simple plumbing repairs, carpentry, or general handyman tasks?
21. Host or hostess in a restaurant: Dress up and show diners to their tables with a smile and a cheery "enjoy your dinner."
22. Cashier: Try restaurants, shops, bowling alleys (or rent the shoes), and movie theaters (or take the tickets.)
23. Supermarket checkout clerk or packer.
24. Retail sales: Part-time, evenings, weekends, or holidays. You will be particularly valuable to an employer if you have familiarity with their product lines.
25. Telemarketing: At an office or from your home telephone if you have unlimited-local phone service.
26. Tailoring and needlework: Do garment alterations at home by appointment or in a shop. Make needlework models for stitchery companies and dealer displays.
27. Rent a room in your home to a college student, or share your home with another person.
28. Rent out your garage: If you don't use it, somebody with a new car may be delighted to rent it. This is particularly easy if you have a private home in a city where parking space is scarce.
29. Give out coupons and samples in supermarkets (food) and department stores (perfume).
30. Tutor: Children, foreigners, or those who are illiterate.
31. Freelance photography: Commercial or personal, if you have the skills. Team up with a freelance writer -- editors like articles with photos.
32. Office temp-work: Freelance or agency affiliated, filling in for sick or vacationing employees, or part-time on weekends, holidays, or evenings.
33. Tax return preparation: If you are an accountant or have knowledge of the tax laws.
34. Sell real estate: Nobody knows the neighborhood better than somebody who lives there. Check to see if license is required.
35. Garage and yard sales: The first time you do it, you'll probably have enough stuff to do it alone. Later, you can team up with others and have a multiple-family sale periodically.
36. Calligraphy: For invitations, framed poems, and inspirational sayings used for gifts. Learn by taking a course or with instructional books.
37. Courier and messenger services: All you need is a clean driver's license and basic knowledge of the area.
38. Sell printed invitations by appointment. Carry sample books. Also can be done with window shades and blinds.
39. Rent out your home in-season: This is successful in resort areas. You stay with a friend or relative for the summer while you make enough money to pay a whole year's taxes on your property! People do this in trendy areas like Long Island's
40. Welcome newcomers to the community: Introduce them to services and facilities in the neighborhood. Work by appointment for organizations like "Welcome Wagon" and "Getting To Know You."
41. Library work: Check out or shelve books. Conduct summer reading clubs or story hours for toddlers.
42. Telephone answering services: Evening and weekend shifts often available.
43. Valet parking: For restaurants and caterers. The tips can be nice.
44. Gift wrapping: In malls and department stores, especially at holiday times.
45. Watchman: Particularly suitable for retired law enforcement personnel.
46. Usher: At sports arenas and theaters. May involve tips and you get to see the event for free!
47. Entertainer: Acting in local theaters, piano playing at restaurants, singing.
48. Make and sell arts and crafts: You can do belts, quilts, decorated T-shirts, flower arrangements, woodwork, sculpture, paintings, macrame, pottery, and other items. Sell at craft fairs and flea markets. Many teachers and retirees have vans and travel the circuit around the country each summer, selling crafts and making friends. They prepare inventory during the colder months.
49. Checking shelf stock in stores for a product distributor, part-time. (Greeting cards, groceries, etc.)
50. Hair styling or make-up artistry: Useful to community theaters, or make house calls to do weddings or to service homebound customers. Teach or demonstrate make-up application. Can be combined with cosmetic sales.
Most of the opportunities above will not be available through help-wanted ads. You will have to find them yourself. If you see a need, ask if you can fill it. If you have a talent or a skill, find ways to sell it. Put ads in local papers, notices on community bulletin boards, and distribute business cards to everyone. You'll find that, in just a few hours a week, you can make the extra cash you need.
Rosenstrauch, an award-winning columnist, lives in