Search results matching tag 'cash'

How to make money without a job

Pat — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:32:51 GMT

Let's brainstorm. There are many people out of work right now and probably more to come as much as I hate to say it. There is still money in circulation, so there's money to be made doing things other than a "job." Some things only make a few pennies or dollars and other things make more. I don't think it's wise to overlook anything that can help bring in some cash when you need it. With that in mind, here are some ideas on how to make money without a job. Add to it, please, if you can.

Temporary babysitting. Just for one family or person now and then usually doesn't mean that you have to have a license.

Returning aluminum cans. Around here you could go for a walk down almost any highway, pick up aluminum cans and other things. I haven't measured it, but I suspect you could make $25 to $50 a day.

Doing custom knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. Put an ad in the paper and in any free place you can find. Craigslist comes to mind.

Christmas is coming, so advertise to put up decorations for people. Those who are busy working appreciate a service like that and you can give a discount to senior citizens who would enjoy having decorations but can't put them up by themselves. Bonus, you can come back and take them down after the holidays, for a fee, of course.

Sell on eBay, if you have or can get your hands on things to sell. You can sell there for other people, too, for a commission.

Watch for ads for sample demonstrators needed. Stores need people for weekend work to hand out samples of food or other things.

Grow something that you're good at and sell it. It's too late to sell pumpkins, but if you have a lot of mums, sell them for Thanksgiving centerpieces. Get poinsettias ready to sell for Christmas decorating and gifting.

Depending on your circumstances, you could sell firewood or Christmas trees.

Collect metals like copper and steel for recycling. Educate yourself on where to find them.

Those are just a few things you could reasonably do to make some cash to help tide you over. You may not be able to make a living at it, but maybe you could make the mortgage or just pay the groceries for the month.

What have you done, or thought you could do, to make money? Let's see if we can help each other and those who come looking for ways to weather this economy.

Accessing Money During A Power Outtage

Cinnamonhuskies — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:21:57 GMT

Gosh today was interesting.

We had 46 mph winds and rain all yesterday and last night. i was feeling fortunate that the power never flickered once. Actually amazed. Well ds#1 had to drive himself to class this afternoon and his truck has been on E since Saturday.....he's fortunate too I guess. So he went to our nearby town 12 miles away to get cash from the ATM and put gas in his truck. I told him to take a gas can just in case, but he said no he'd call me if he ran out. Well he putters into town to find everything dark, and the bank closed up. He went to the gas station in hopes of finding an ATM only to have the clerk tell him that the power was out all over, and if he wanted to buy something the old fashioned way in the store he could, but anything electronic like the gas pumps or using the ATM or using a credit/debit card would not work. Ds just has a ATM card for his savings acct., and had no cash on him at all. So he started driving down the road to another gas station a few miles out of town, hoping it would get there on fumes. He calls me, and I met him over at that gas station since it had no ATM for ds to get cash for gas. I had no cash, and prayed that there was $40 left in my checking acct to cover the debit charge....which there was. So ds thanked me profusely and promised to pay me back when he got to a bank.

Got me thinking, what about the folks that have Bridge cards (food stamp EFTs)? If there was a prolonged power outtage for natural disaster or terrorist threat, they could not get food. Anyone relying even on debit cards, could not purchase things. Gas pumps would not work. Yikes. It would not take much to bring everything to a stand still quick. I think maybe we rely on power and cards way too much now. After all, the gas station owner would still process sales 'the old fashioned way'...meaning with cash.

Revisiting the top 10 garage sale obsessions...how it fits for thrift!

Millers Grain House — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Although by the look of the dates on my blog, one would *think* the Miller Family had dropped off the planet! Sorry I've been otherwise engaged with two college graduations and a pending move! Phew....

To finish up my last post and tie things in a nice little neat (obsessive compulsive) knot....the garage sale was a success!! Yes!! Enough money to pay for all the gas and food for a little graduation celebration trip!!

After reviewing how it had done and the list of obsessions before having the sale, I realized that it's not really DONE after all. The money gave us a week's worth of memories while our kids were still under our roof and the 'left-over' items are actually still selling and my obsessing is actually paying off in a thrifty way!

Let me explain by way of my top 10 obsession countdown again. Updates are in ALL CAPITALS....

Number 10: You've alphabetized your spices and color coded your drawers. (WITH THIS, I AM ABLE TO FIX MEALS, FIND THINGS AND ORGANIZE MUCH FASTER, MAKING BETTER USE OF MY TIME, WHICH FOR A HOMESTEADING ENTREPENUER EQUALS MONEY!)

Number 9: There's more in the garage than in the house.(THIS HAS DWINDLED DOWN A GOOD BIT, BUT THE LARGE ITEMS THAT DIDN'T SELL ARE STILL OUT THERE - AND SINCE THEY ARE ADVERTIZED IN THE LOCAL PAPER, IT'S AN EASY VEW FOR PEOPLE TO COME SEE THEM BY APPOINTMENT)

Number 8: You've found almost all missing sock mates! (Doing that happy dance, because, uh, yeah, I hold on to the spares just in case!) (OH YES, STILL HAPPY ABOUT EVERYONE HAVING MORE SOCKS INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW ONES!)

Number 7: You look at a box of garlic that you harvested last fall and wonder...."Can I sell them for a quarter a piece?" (WE DID SELL QUITE A BIT OF IT ACTUALLY!)

Number 6: You could EAT off of my garage floor it's so clean now! (WELL, HALF OF IT AT LEAST WHICH SAVES ON HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TO VACUUM THE DEN!)

Number 5: You re-do the 6 street signs because: "Well, they just aren't pretty enough to catch the eye." (SAVED THEM FOR THE NEXT GARAGE SALE! VERY EYE CATCHING NOW!)

Number 4: You boxed up clothes to sell but also boxed up the hangers to take out to the garage and then hang up the clothes...(wow) ( I GOT NOTHIN' - THAT WAS JUST PLAIN SILLY TO DO THAT)

Number 3: You look for plants to divide into smaller potted plants so you can sell one plant 4 times! (YES. THEY DID SELL! AND THE TWO LEFT ARE A NICE [FREE] ADDITION TO HE HOUSE!)

Number 2: You fabreeze (homemade of course) the GARAGE to make it smell more 'inviting' (what is up with that thought). (AGAIN, JUST PLAIN SILL THAT I DID THAT, BUT IT MADE A NICE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CUSTOMERS!)

The Number 1 sign you're obsessing about your garage sale.....Your black lab comes in to take a nap, and wakes up walking away with a $10 sticker on his hind haunches!! (ACTUALLY HAVE HAD OFFERS ON HIM, BUT HE'S WORTH MORE TO US AS A FRIEND THAN A CASH-OUT!)

Really the act of having that sale gave our family more than immediate cash. So, like a domino effect, we have reaped far more rewards for the hard work for one weekend garage sale. It cost us nothing to HAVE it but time (which we spent together and even made new neighborhood friends). It lost us nothing but some items we didn't need anyway. It has produced a 'freeing' feeling of less clutter and more productivity. It has been a blessing beyond the sales. Worth the time and effort....but...I still think I'll wait a while before another one!

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and work-from-home wife and homesteading mother with three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Re: Need Feedback on gift giving at Christmas dilemma....

joan of ark — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:16:29 GMT

I think the $5 is plenty generous considering all and play it by ear next year. Good compromise :) My mom sends $2 bills, the kids really think that's fun and they like saving them. But we have had our mail stolen before so I can't recommend cash in the mail.

joan of ark

Re: Tracking expenses

joan of ark — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:36:03 GMT

I hate writing everything down. Money or points for weight watches! I find the best way for me is to cash my grocery ck for the week $100 ( that feeds the 10 of us) and then as I spend I put the receipts back in the envelope with the remaining money from the bank. I can see what I spend by the receipts and if I'm styaing on budget by how much cash I have left. The goal is to not spend it all. Lately I've only gotten $90 in bills and $10 in a roll of state quarters. I'm trying to save better and I hate to spend my quarters :)

blessings, joan of ark