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CTC Readers' Poll:
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"I've done a variety of things
but the biggest income source has been my work from home
venture. I open accounts for an environmentally-
concerned company. Also selling on eBay,
garage sales and recently focus groups. I just looked
into mystery shopping as well but will have to concentrate
more on that when the kids are back in school as that many do
not allow others to be on the shop!" ~ Linda
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| "We take them out of savings!" ~ Gladys | |
| "I have been cleaning out our basement and selling things on eBay to raise extra money. It's more convenient than having a garage sale, and it seems to me that the prices one gets are higher too. For instance, I sold a ziplock bag full of 44 wood drawer knobs for about $5 plus shipping & handling. It probably would have brought about 50 cents at a tag sale. I sold a cast iron skillet ('collectible' because of its brand name) for $64 which probably would have gone for about $5 at a yard sale. Taking the photos and writing the descriptions and listings takes time, but not any more time than preparing for a tag sale. And I can do it at times that are convenient for me. It doesn't bring in a lot at one time, but over the course of a month or two it has paid some bills! I've sold videos and books I no longer want and usually get $2 or $3 for them compared to the 50 cents or a dollar I would get at a yard sale. And stacks of old magazines, which would ordinarily go into the recycling pile, get $3-$4 for a year's worth. And every once in a while, something unexpected happens: there is a bidding war on some unremarkable item that turns out to be a treasure for someone else. A knitting book I had sold for $170 and I have no clue why; I thought to sell it for $5 or so. I just say, 'Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your provision for me and a blessing for someone else.' So, if you have a few months, and you are a stay-at-home like me, this might be a convenient way to raise some extra funds and de-clutter your home at the same time!" ~ Sharon | |
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"I need to come up with
some extra money when we were planning on adopting a baby
and I have since continued to work a little here and
there, always being able to take my son with me as I am a
homemaker.
During the cold months when yard sales are out of the question (we don't have a garage) I list things on Ebay. I also rubber stamp and scrapbook so I belong to Yahoogroups.com and have joined several groups that deal with scrappin' & stampin'. I then sell my used, gently used and new items.....those items 'I just HAD to have' that I never used. I have also done mystery shopping and I earn $12-$20 for each shop. For two years I did Ruby Tuesdays restaurant (love the food there), they paid me $25.00 for dinner and it was nice to go eat with my husband. One word of caution: never pay a mystery shop company for finding you a job. I have done mystery shopping and merchandising/demos for 12 years now and I have NEVER paid anyone to find work for me. I also substitute teach at our local Christian school. I have an associates degree and can sub for 5th-12 grade. This will depend on your state's laws as to whether or not you would need a teaching certificate or not. I have also monitored study halls in the public school. I earned around $2,000 per year working about 90 minutes a day, 5 days per week." ~ Moe |
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"-- Sign up with a temp staffing or day labor agency. Jobs
include everything from construction jobs to office jobs, doing
research to handing out grocery store samples.
-- Unions use 'casuals' when there aren't enough union workers to get the contract job done. Example: My husband works as a casual loading and unloading suitcases from cruise ships. -- Start a home service business that doesn't require a cash outlay to start. You can work it around your employment, family obligations, and according to your income needs. Use tools and skill you already have. Examples: mowing lawns, sewing alterations, child care, tilling gardens, snow shoveling. -- Become a sales rep for a company whose product you already use and like. You will save money on the products you buy to use for yourself. When you need cash, have an open house, pass around a catalog and take orders, or let people know you are available for parties (not just home selling parties, but events such as wedding showers). -- Set up at a flea market. -- Do property caretaking. -- Sell things to a consignment shop, pawn shop, by listing them on radio swap shops, or advertising them in newspaper or shopper paper classifieds." ~ Coleen |
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| "We go through our CDs and books and sell on eBay the ones we are not using anymore. We also use what is in the freezer and pantry and just buy milk and bread for the week." ~ Amy | |
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"Reduce spending by cutting back on eating out, etc."
~ Sonia
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| "Savings." ~ Anonymous | |
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Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. |
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