1.)
What do you have to sell? In my house our garage
is the big black hole of the house. We have boxes that were put in there when
we moved into the house three years ago, and we have steadily added to that. At
the beginning of the summer we decided when the weather starts to cool down we
would finally get out there and clean out all of the boxes, donate whatever we
need to, throw away the trash, etc. With the Government shutdown looming over us
we decided to utilize different media outlets to sell whatever we could and
donate the rest (or after a few days donate what doesn't sell).
These few ideas are great to make some
money but also great to find an amazing deal on something you need. Winter is
coming and you will need warmer coats for you and the kids. Why spend $80 on
each coat when you can get it for $15/$20? Expecting a blessing (baby) and need
some extra supplies, why not save upwards of 75% off retail. The list goes on
and on.
I am on Facebook (take a look at this
page’s fan page HERE) and in my local area there are groups designed for buying/selling
household items (or really anything). Try a simple search for your area with
“virtual yard sale” in the title. I know in my area there are several groups,
some designed for baby items, and others designed for “man things” while other
groups are just general groups that accept most items.
Another website I regularly use is
Bookoo.com. You can do a search for your zip code to see if there is a group
for your area, if not you can create one. This site is very popular near
military installations and has been for some time.
I am sure many people have heard about
Craigslist.org. If not Craigslist in a website that you can buy and or sell your
goods, hire someone to do something for you, offer a service you have to offer.
It is a great way to save money or make a few bucks.
What happens if you don’t have internet
access to utilize these websites? No worries call your local newspaper and see
how much they would charge for a classified ad. This may not be a great idea if
you have an item you are selling for $10, but some of your higher priced goods
would fit perfectly in the newspaper. A
free way you can list items for sale is by placing an ad on your local
community boards. These can be at school, grocery stores, local gyms, pet
stores, etc.
So far I have sold about 15/20 things that
I was just going to donate and have earned roughly $200. What could you do with
an extra $200?
2.)
Opening your own business is a great way to earn
some extra income. I am not talking about a store at the mall, but a small home
based business. There are some GREAT
options available that pay you to sell their product. Remember Tupperware? The
company is still around and doing great. Visit Jenn’s Tupperware page HERE to
see the deals she offers. Love doing your nails? Take a look at Jamberry Nail
Wraps. This company is new to the direct sales business but already making
waves in the fashion industry, making appearances on the runways of Fashion
Week, and celebrity Instagram pages. Take a look at the products available and
see if it is something you and your friends would like – click HERE. So many
other companies like Scentsy, Posh, Miche, and Tastefully Simple. Most have a
small start-up cost but you can easily add a few hundred dollars to your bank
account at the end of the month with a little work.
3.)
Do you have old jewelry just sitting in your
drawer? Maybe some broken pieces you couldn't bring yourself to throw out or
get rid of before? Now there are companies (even home based businesses like in
number two) that will buy your gold and give you cash on the spot. You can host a party and even earn money from
your friends selling their gold and earning cash. Just Google what the market
rate is for gold the day you decide to sell. This way you know if someone is
really giving you a fair price for your gold or taking advantage.
4.)
Become a mystery shopper. I know it sounds crazy
but companies will pay you to check up on their employees. You should NOT have
to pay a company to become a mystery shopper with them.
5.)
Are you a crafty person or good with tools? You
can refinish furniture you find at thrift stores or the free pile and resell
these pieces. You can sell your crafts at a local craft fair or online. You can
become a handyman for your community, doing odd jobs here and there.
6.)
Sell CD, DVDs, and books you have laying around
the house. There are stores and online companies willing to pay you for these
items.
7.)
“Donate” your plasma. There are centers in most
cities and states that will pay you (upwards of $300 a month) to come in and
sell your plasma. Plasma donation is as simple as donating your blood, the only
difference is a machine spins out the plasma and pumps your blood back into
you.
8.)
Do surveys online test out websites, and get
paid to read emails,. Here is a list of different companies that can match you
with people hiring for these easy tasks.
Volition.com usertesting.com and http://www.surveypolice.com
9.)
Get a paper route in your community or a job
delivering pizza. These jobs pay minimal wages but tips can be very lucrative.
10.) Tutor
for money. Parents will pay upward of $25 an hour for you to tutor their child
in a subject they need help with. Are you great with number, perfect with
spelling and grammar, or love history? This is a great way to add some extra
cash to your wallet.
Even though things are tight now with these simple tricks
you can easily earn some extra money for your household to ease these frugal times.
