Put Money Into Your Pocket With Little to No Work

Green is good.

Not many people will disagree with me that having money can make life easier or pay for that movie ticket to the hottest show.

There are some easy ways to earn money. All you need is either a little bit of creativity or the willingness to part with items you no longer need.

The first avenue to earn that money is to tap into your creativity and skills.

If you have a craft or a skill, you can sell your creation and time on Etsy.

For instance, this past Halloween I wanted the Martha Stewart spider skirt that was sold out online. I had to have it. It would have been the perfect accessory to my haunting season. The problem—sold out and over $60 for the skirt and shipping.

The solution—Etsy.  

I created an ad and asked if anybody could make me this skirt for under $40. I had 8 people putting in their bids by the end of the day.

Sell your skills. Sewing, wood work, welding & metalwork, paper crafting, and even painting are just a few of the skills you can sell to people like me—the not-so-crafty-person.

Not only can you sell your skills but you can also sell items you’ve already created. So, grab that bird house you made out of driftwood, take a picture and post an ad. Better yet, find an ad posted by the less creative and respond to us; we need you.

Now, if you are like me — unskilled with creative arts — I have an easy task for you. Go and find things in your house that are collecting dust.

In your garage do you have your mother’s old table that doesn’t fit in your house or that completely hideous green globe lamp from the 1970's sitting in some back corner? It could score you some cash. Modern-retro is coming back in style, and many are looking for those treasures.  Mid-century modern is back in, and that gondola sofa, tiered end table or console stereo might be worth a few bucks if they're in good condition.

Find whatever you don’t need or want and list it on Craigslist.

There is money to be found in your house.

My husband and I have sold an old basketball hoop, a beat-up tool chest for a pickup truck, corner nook table, soft top to a jeep and so many other things. Some things we bought at a yard sale, never used and sold on Craigslist for a huge profit.

Craigslist does not charge for creating an ad or selling the product. Most sales are done locally and once the cash and item are exchanged, that’s it. Just slide that green into your wallet and enjoy that extra room in your closet.

Remember there are treasures in your house that others want for a cheaper price than buying new.  Give it a go.  Be sure to post a picture with your ad, as statistics show that ads with pictures sell quicker and for more money.

If you don’t want to work with strangers or sell your services, try making a design and adding it to a shirt, mug, bag or some other product to make money.

Cafepress allows you to make a design, add it to the product and then Cafepress manufactures the product for you and ships it out, too. You mark up the items from the base price and that’s how you make a profit.

Imagine having five friends pregnant. They need shirts that say, “Yes, I’m pregnant” with a big arrow pointing to their belly. You make the design in paint shop or some other design program, then add it to the shirt. Set your selling price and you buy them for your friends.

When other moms search online for a similar shirt because they are sick of telling others they are, in fact, pregnant, your product comes up. They buy it, and then you make a small profit off each shirt.

It’s free to make a basic shop, design an item and sell your products. All you have to invest is your time and ideas.

My husband and I earn from 10 cents to $2 per product, but it adds up. We make anywhere from $30 a month to over $100. It depends on your products and who wants them.  

There are untapped outlets to earn money. You won’t get rich, or maybe you will. Maybe your idea will be the next “it” idea.  Certain well-timed political designs have netted their creators well over $20K.

 In the time it takes to find an old vase, a set of vintage record albums, or put your idea on a shirt or mug, you could make money.

What is there to lose?