Ways to make extra money during this time of year (ideas?)

[xmas74]

I posted this thread over in the Lounge about one of my ideas
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9805231

I'm always looking for other ideas. I suspect there are others all over DU looking for similar ideas on how to make a few bucks, whether it's for Christmas for the kids or even to pay the electric bill.

Any suggestions?

(And I'd post this in the Lounge but I'm afraid it'll sink without any suggestions.)

[Kennah]

1. How are you with a pump action shotgun?

:sarcasm:

[xmas74]

5. Probably not as good as the clerk across the counter.

This is gun country around here.

[TheWraith]

21. Pumps are overrated.

The main reason the police use them is because they're cheap. ;)

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. UPS and FedEx sometimes hire temporary workers during Christmas.

Not immediate but perhaps to be remembered at the right time.

[xmas74]

6. The only problem is child care.

Great suggestion for some on this board but I need something that I don't have to worry quite so much about child care.

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. Do child care for others, at your place? You can take care of your kids at the same time.

[xmas74]

8. I do that too.

That's my big New Years Eve moneymaker. I haven't rung in the new year without someone's child in my home in many years. There is big money to be made on New Years.

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. Hold children's birthday parties at your place? Parents might welcome the escape from mess

and clean-up. Theme parties, if they're into something.

[begin_within]

3. Shopping, wrapping of gifts, decorating, addressing and sending cards, invitations, etc.

All the tasks that make the Christmas season so stressful - take the stress off their minds by doing all the busy work for them. People should be willing to pay someone to do all these things for them and make their holiday much less stressful.

[xmas74]

4. I've thought about advertising that I'll address and send

holiday cards, along with party invites. I've also thought about advertising that I'll wrap and mail packages. The problem is that I live in a smallish town-the addressing and sending cards isn't so bad but the wrapping might not be something that offers business in my area.

I do know how to make really pretty cloth bows for packages. I wish someone would pay me to do that.

[begin_within]

10. Just the mailing service alone is valuable.

The lines at post offices around the holidays are long and they don't move fast. Not having to stand in that line is worth a lot.

[xmas74]

11. That's what I think.

I might also advertise that service, along with the Christmas cards and the Santa letters. I need all the money I can make this season.

[begin_within]

18. I think shopping, wrapping of gifts and decorating are the most time-consuming and stressful

Sending of Christmas cards is something that many people either don't bother with or do on a piecemeal basis, and they may have the cards sent, but then get more cards and want to send to them, so it could become confusing and stressful for you.

Shopping is a very personal thing, and you would have to worry about buying the wrong item, the wrong size, the wrong title, or whatever. Plus you would have the worry about how to arrange payment by them.

Gift wrapping is something that is tedious and time-consuming (in my opinion) so if you enjoy that it might be a great way to take in some extra money. I would have a set price per gift and offer a preset selection of wraps to choose from.

Packaging and mailing or shipping the packages is a valuable service that is basically cut-and-dried, but again you would have to arrange for the payment of the shipping fees somehow. You can get estimates online from both usps.com and ups.com so you will know in advance what the shipping charge will be.

I think decorating is a great way for people who have that talent to make money, if you enjoy decorating that might be a good choice. I would just set the charge for each job individually, and give them an estimate after you see their place and what they want done. It's probably going to take a lot longer to do each job than you first think it will. And if it's going to be decorating outdoors you will need to be comfortable getting up on a ladder.

[pitohui]

16. you say that but have you ever paid someone to stand in line for you?

i think i already know the answer

"worth a lot" truly, sincerely doesn't mean the same as "not worth a penny," it really doesn't

at the end of the day i might be grumpy when i see a line at the post office but i won't pay someone else to take my place in line and neither will you

let's test it, next time you go to the post office, and there is a line, simply go to the first person and line and give them $5 to hand over the package (or whatever) for you...wait...you won't do it, will you? no, you'll make some story about how it's too hard to explain but the reality is that you would rather have the five dollars than the ten minutes which you can use to stand there and check your email on your phone anyway...

look you can pay ME to stand in line at the post office for you but i already know you won't, how do i know, 30 years of self employment and standing on line at the post office and offering to do it for others while i'm there, no one will pay me a penny for it, not once in all those years


"not having to stand in that line" is NOT worth a lot, it's worthless, in any real sense, to a person who genuinely needs the money because the people who HAVE the money won't pay it

[begin_within]

19. I have not, but

there is a packaging/shipping place I go to to send UPS packages, and they regularly take things to be mailed. Not as many things as they get for UPS, but some each day. There are some people that don't have the time to go and stand in a line at the post office. Not many, but there are some who are willing to pay someone else to mail something - I have seen the envelopes and pacakges sitting there. Not enough to make a living on by itself, it would only be one of several services you would have to provide.

[MsFlorida]

9. craigs list gets us through

couple other things we are doing during these challenging times (I've been on unemployment since January, but i have an interview Thursday-- hooray!)

we list a lot of items on craigslist that we dont need or want anymore. you can also suggest that you will post on craigslist for others for a percentage of the item that sells (dont price yourself out of the market, people are looking for a deal on craigslist)

one of the other things we do is we collect metal of all sorts -- its usually good for about $100 a day but you have to work really hard for it

[xmas74]

12. I've tried the metal

but that's a losing battle around here. There are too many others, mostly young men who can't find work, doing the same.

I'm not sure how the posting on craigslist for others works. That is definitely something I'll have to look into!

[cyglet]

14. Plasma donations?

I do them even if not pressed for cash. $55 per week @ 2 donations a week...I just sit and read magazines...

[xmas74]

15. Too far away from a nearby clinic.

By the time I pay for gas it's no longer worth the drive.

We used to go in a group as college students but those days are long gone.

[annm4peace]

17. servers at hotels for parties..

just lie and say you used to do it in college or when ever... the hotels always need help for the many holiday parties.

also selling books on ebay. check yardsales.. ask friends. etc.

[xmas74]

20. I'm already a server for a catering company.

I can't work for any other caterers or I can lose my job, according to their policies.

I tried ebay once but didn't do well on their. Maybe I need to try again.

[babydollhead]

22. here is a list

Collect Toys to donate to needy families, including your own.
Have a Toy and Clothing Exchange at your house, find fun things for the kids.
Make homemade gifts instead of buying them...one year I made life size dolls for my 2 and 3 year old kids using sheets for the body and dressing them in my kids clothes, a little elastic on the feet and hands and they have themselves a dancing buddy( I could not figure out the neck droopage)

Bake and have cookie exchanges
Trade sitting for kids for services
Look through your cookbooks and give some away as gifts.

If you are home with little kids, teach them about giving, it's a lovely experience. They will have tons of ideas about their skills and what they could think of to give (they don't care about money, do not doubt their creativity)

We decided to be poor in exchange for me getting to be their Mom, who was home, who let them be the people they are today.

Then I taught myself how to do mosaics and that is that.