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Ways To Make Money

For those of us aggressively tackling our debt or trying to increase our savings, it sometimes feels like we can’t squeeze any more extra money out of our income. There’s a simple solution to this problem: find ways to make more money.

Host A Real Garage Sale Probably the easiest way to make extra cash quickly. Honestly, even though I live in a one bedroom apartment, I know I have enough stuff sitting around the house and socked away in storage to make a couple of hundred dollars. Easily. Be sure to research your municipal codes. Each city has its own restrictions.

Host A Virtual Garage Sale If you don’t have the desire to wake up extra early on a Saturday or Sunday, you can easily unload your things online. Use Craigslist, eBay, or other online auction sites to unload your things for cash. If your unfamiliar with how each site operates, start with small sales first. Also, be sure to look at my tips for using Craigslist post.

Market a Talent Many of us have talents that could make us money on the side. If you teach tennis or coach basketball or baseball, offer one-on-one sessions for individuals in your neighborhood. If you are blessed with patience, perhaps you can baby-sit for your neighbors or be the neighborhood dog walker. Look into catering gigs or short-term employment around the holiday season as a way to pocket extra money.

Sign Up for Focus Groups Companies are always looking to pay people for their opinions about new products, new packaging, or new marketing campaigns. For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, head over to www.nicholsresearch.com. For everyone else, head over to www.quirks.com to sign up for focus groups in your area. My friend, Kira, over at PennyFoolish has a helpful post about filling out forms online for cash. Due to identity theft concerns, I’m not convinced this is for me. But it seems to have paid off for her.

Sell Your Blood This is somewhat controversial, especially in the post-Hurricane Katrina, post-Southeast Asian Tsunami, and post-911 world. Why sell your blood when you can freely donate it to the Red Cross? Because you can make money to pay off your debts, that’s why. (And we know that men and women can donate other things, too. But this might arouse ethical concerns for some. There might also be legal issues down the road, as well. If these don’t concern you then donate away!)

Register with Studies In addition to focus groups, be on the lookout for studies that you can take part in. Not all studies are medically related. Some deal with sleep habits, smoking cessation programs, and relationships. Again, Craigslist is your friend. Do a search to find some leads. But only participate in studies that you feel comfortable with.

This list is not a complete list. It’s created with the aim of trying to get ideas churning in your mind. What might work for you may not work for someone else. Brainstorm by yourself and come up with your own list. There are a million ways to make extra money. Please share you ideas with us!