How To Make Good Money (In A Bad Economy)
A Public Service Message From: http://www.podlife.org
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Most of us are feeling the ongoing effects of not only living in, but
surviving in a bad economy. Jobs are continuously being lost
weekly, with very few new job opening replacements. Naturally, this
directly affects our ability to live comfortably without some degree of
concern from an income perspective.
And, while the Internet is often touted as one of the best places or
ways to start a home business, not everyone is interested in or
suited for starting an online business.
And, for those who aren’t, but who may have skills that are better
suited offline, below are over 25 ideas to make a great part-time or
fulltime income that may well serve to ease financial challenges.
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Teaching:
No, not in the public school system, but in a “Continuing Education”
capacity. If you have a special skill or training that others may be
interested in learning how to do, you can contact area community
colleges and attempt to interest them in adding your skill as a
course to their curriculum. These are usually non credit courses
that people have an interest in and are taught after normal day
business hours and, generally, a couple of hours for approximately
two days each week for several weeks. You will need to create a
course with lesson details (called a “syllabus”) and then present it
to the “Continuing Education” department at the school, usually a
semester in advance. If your course is approved, the school will list
it in its course publication for the next semester. A great idea (if
you are approved) is to also market, promote, publicize, and
advertise it yourself so that you can create demand and signups for
your course, which will also impress the school to continue your
course for following semesters.
Lawn Service:
If you like working outdoors, a lawn service is a great business to
start while also staying in good physical (and mental) condition.
You can especially benefit during Fall and Winter seasons by going
into a “mulching” phase with your business, whereby, you convert
your mower so that it grinds up fallen leaves and turns them into
fertilizer for the next Spring to produce an attractive lawn. Also, as
branches fall, this adds additional work opportunities for your
business. You can advertise inexpensively your lawn service in
local small “shopper” papers, local cable channel bulletin boards,
flyers on doors in neighborhoods, business cards in convenience
stores, online ads in your local area on Craig’s List, Back Page,
MySpace, etc.
Van Delivery/Moving Service/Errand Service:
Many people make large home purchases, but don’t have the
appropriately sized vehicle for delivery. If you have a van or truck
and can offer them reasonable rental fees, you could use the same
above advertising areas to also place ads for your new van delivery
service. Also, if you live near a college, you could advertise in the
college student newspaper since college students are in need of
moving services at the start of the Fall semester and at the end of
the Spring semester.
Home Cooking/Recipes:
Do you make a great main course dish, complete meal, or dessert?
If so, why not make it and sell it directly from your home, or take it
around to neighborhood restaurants and give samples to the
manager in hopes of your picking the restaurants up as regular
client accounts? If you sell from your home, be sure to first check
with your health department for approval to do so.
Baby Sitting:
If you enjoy children, you could open up a neighborhood day care
from your home as both parents are likely to be working (or seeking
work) today. Also, a number of people must drive some distance
into other neighborhoods for sitters, and your location could just be
the savior they need to cut their driving times down.
Soap Making:
If you like fragrances and scents, look into soap making. Your own
unique natural soap could be placed on consignments with local
small businesses and stores, with your sharing a percentage profit.
With consignments, the stores have no risk financially, and only
need to find space for your products.
Postcard Sales:
If you have a fairly good graphic or writing talent, why not turn it into
a home-based business. Then, when you have enough examples,
approach stores such as Wal-Mart to interest them in picking up
your line.
Food Vendor:
Are you told that you make a great hot dog or cheeseburger? If so,
why not try your luck at selling from your home, or getting
permission (or renting) a parking lot space from a high-traffic store in
your area? You could set up to sell lunch only for several hours
(say 11am to 2pm) and make a great income.
Pet Sitting/Pet Walking
Are you good with animals? If so, this is a great market for people
who go on vacations or away on business for a few weeks, but who
don’t want to spend exorbitant amounts of money with commercial
kennels or similar animal housing businesses.
House Sitting:
This is a great way to live for free if you can get yourself lined up
consistently with a booked schedule. In this venture, you may
need to be bonded.
Video Business:
Are you fairly good with a video camera above the average amateur
person? Even better, do you have video editing software? If so, you
could hire out to video birthday parties, company parties, church
events, and all sorts of community and social functions. You could
offer both filming and editing services as a package or individually.
To get business quickly, you should have some samples in advance
that show your filming and captioning skills.
Garage Cleaning and/or Junk Removal:
Many garages get no respect, as they are where most of the
perceived “junk” gets banished. And, in many cases, the “junk” is
simply tossed in any way without form. You could start a garage
cleaning business that could catch on like wildfire by word of mouth
alone if you can do a great job of organizing and cleaning. The
same goes for junk removal. Additionally, you could advertise your
services as well.
Parking Lot Clean-up:
Talk to businesses (large or small) in your area about keeping their
parking lots clean every couple of days or so, as most businesses
(particularly, busy ones) do not have the time to do so, but could
use a better image with a clean parking lot.
Apartment/House Cleaning:
Do you have friends or associates who keep junky apartments or
houses? If so, offer to clean them up for a fee.
Holiday Decorating:
If you a great holiday decorator, this is another great area where you
can make a good income, especially, in high income neighborhoods.
In fact, if you are talented in both outside decorating and inside
decorating, your income could be substantial.
Assembly Service:
Think of how many people purchase products that require assembly,
but due to impatience, usually leave several screws out as a result
of not reading the directions correctly. If you are good at assembly
(and, reading directions), you could offer your assembly talents for
a fee.
Boat/Car Detailing:
Detailing, particularly for automobiles, is huge business. If you are
now simply detailing your own, or only for a few friends, why not turn
it into a nice business income as well.
Garage Sale Mail Order:
Are you addicted to garage sales? Can’t wait until Friday and
Saturday mornings to be at them? Then, you can start turning your
addiction into a lucrative income by buying and re-selling garage
sale items in your local newspapers or online at eBay or Craig’s List.
This won’t cure your addiction, however, and may even make you
more addicted.
Woodworking:
Did you take woodworking in school, or learn it from someone? If
you are good at woodworking, you could create your own
customized furniture, such as chairs, tables, etc. Then, you could
take photos of your work, place it on your website, and sell it. You
could also contact area furniture stores with your photos and
samples, and consign your products to them. Again, with
consignments, the stores have no risk financially, and only need to
find space for your products.
Hot & Cold Drink Stand:
Can you concoct your own great-tasting hot or cold drinks that are
not sold in stores (yet)? Then, you may have a great market,
whereas, you can set up a stand or present these “originals” to area
food stores that may be interested.
Garden Stand:
If you have a decent sized backyard with extra acreage that you
aren’t using, why not turn it into a commercial vegetable and/or fruit
garden and make some great money? Many people would rather
purchase organic vegetables and fruits, and eliminate purchasing
foods that have been overly fertilized at the grocer.
Holiday Candle-making:
Holiday candle-making could be a good business as well. However,
to really get your business popular, consider deviating from the
normal shapes and sizes, and going with a candle format that really
stands out and looks different.
Gift Baskets:
These are not only popular during holidays, but for events
throughout the year. If you are creative with customizing gift
baskets, you could be in for a nice nest egg adventure.
Interior Design:
Are you good at making a room of furniture look like a work of art?
If so, and if you have done so with your own apartment or house,
you could take photos, advertise your service online, and get a
great interior design business started.
Handy-man (Or, Handy-woman)
Think of all the people just in your neighborhood or community who
are “repair challenged.” This lack of skill usually costs them a pretty
coin when they call on commercial repair services. Can you repair
leaky faucets, fix a door or window, or any number of other tedious
household chores? If so, why not hire out as a local handy-man or
handy-woman?
Create (And Sell) Reports on how to do something you already know
Now, if you have any of these skills above, you could also make
extra money by creating a report that provides instructions on how to
use them. In essence, you could both perform these ventures as well
as provide instructions on them to an entirely different market that
prefers how to learn how to do them.
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How To Make Good Money (In A Bad Economy)
A Public Service Message From: http://www.podlife.org
