Creative Ways to Make Extra Money - Offline and Online

It's no secret, the economy remains unstable, and many are still seeking employment. Many of those who are employed are struggling paycheck to paycheck.

I'm sure we have all said "If only there was a way I could make some extra money."

Well, with enough creativity and determination, there are many ways. For offline, this is where your creativity will play keyrole. For online, it's best to educate yourself first before you jump in and end up wasting your valued time and energy.

In this article I list some tips and ideas offline and online. Then I'll get into some very simple steps on how you can start earning a legitimate income, and possibly turn it into a full time business!

My dad had never experienced unemployment, yet, while employed, he always looked for ways to make extra money. He didn't need to make anything on the side, but he wanted to make sure his family was safe, comfortable, and happy. And we were!

I asked my dad one day why he always works so hard. He told me this...

"If your'e not afraid of hard work or getting your hands dirty, you will never be without a job. You'll always have money to put food on the table and pay the bills. When you get a job, no matter how little the wages are, do your best. Keep that job until you find one that pays better."

At the time he told me that, I had very little experience, and I was just beginning my education. That was also the time I had just started my auto detailing business. I still had much to learn!

One of the things I learned after my dad passed away was, if I was unable to find employment...make my own!

Finding employment? How does one go about that?

Some can make the sacrifice, some can't. The ideas mentioned here are aimed at those who can. Can what? Make their own employment.

When watching the news one day, there was a story about a young lady who had just graduated from college. She earned her degree, but was unable to find a job in her field. She ended up working as a server in a restaurant. She needed work, so she took the first job she could get until she was able to find a job in her field, a field in which she had an education and earned her degree.

Why am I telling you this? Because sometimes in life, we have to take what we can get, until we can find what we want.

If we are one of those who can't get any job, then it's time to put your experience and your skills to work for yourself!

Let's pretend for now, that the internet does not exist. For that matter, computers either.

So, this is the point where you sit down and write a list of everything you are capable of doing. Can you paint? Perhaps you have a truck, a lawnmower and a weedwacker. Maybe you have a hobby, like building birdhouses. You could sell your birdhouses! Think of all the things you can do to make money.

You may already be doing something that could earn you some extra cash, and don't even know it!

The painting job you see here, is something I took on while the car was being worked on. I wanted to take the opportunity to clean, polish, and paint some things to make the engine bay nicer looking.

Not only did I paint the above valve covers, I took it a step further by silver-foiling the raised lettering! I also painted a few other things as well.

Hence, the idea came to me to begin "customizing" auto parts!

Now the painting part isn't reserved to auto parts only. If you are good at painting, you could paint fences, or perhaps rooms. You could even take in old bicycles and "renew" them!

If you are one of those people who have a knack, and the patience to assemble, whether it's a computer desk or an entertainment center, there's a perfect opportunity to put some cash in your pocket!

There are a lot of people who just don't have the time or the patience to put something together the proper way.

Just print out some flyers and post them in laundrymats, and just about anywhere you can think of. Yes I know, I said let's pretend computers don't exist. Well, if you don't have a computer, believe it or not, you can just hand print out your flyers, and people will respond.

If you love animals, pet sitting is a great way to make some extra money!

There are many people who work long hours, and just don't have the time to spend with their pet. Some people are required to travel, and spend just too many days away from their beloved pet. They would love to have someone who loves pets, to take care of their four-legged chldren, but especially in their own homes, where the animal will feel...well, more at home!

You could check on the pet's safety, feed and water them, and even take the dog(s), for a walk. As an add-on service, you could even water the plants or the yard.

If you think you could do this on a full-time basis, give it a go! If you would like to make this a full-time thing, check out your local County Clerks office to see about obtaining a license.

I had a friend a few years ago who knew everything there was about setting up aquariums. She knew which type of fish went together, and knew how to maintain that aquarium. For extra income, that's exactly what she did.

Some people would like to have an aquarium but don't know the first thing about it. If you think this type of job may be for you, you gain "business" by asking the manager at pet stores...Petco or Petsmart, to post flyers or busicards.

I have been at those pet stores a number of times, where someone comes in wanting to set up their first aquarium, but don't know the first thing about it....neither do many of the young employees at those pet stores.

Shop at PETsMART.com

Some people are not very good at organizing, nor do they have the time. If you are good at organizing just about anything, don't just think about kitchen's or bedrooms, but consider garages or attics too.

Do you consider yourself handy around the house? Are you one of those Jack or Jill's of all trades? This would be an excellent way of earning some extra cash and show off your talents.

It took me years to start earning my first dollar online.

When computers first came out, I had heard of people making money online, and I've tried just about every "program" I could, only to be delivered an empty promise.

The fact is, there are a lot of things to learn, but, they are all easy. I just needed everything laid out for me in easy to understand simple English. Then of course, you have to, must have the right mind set. Determination and persistence is a must.

What is the first thing you think of when wanting to make money online? You think "How can I make money?" Right? Of course you do, that's the whole idea right? But, that's the only idea on your mind...what's in it for you.

I've been there, done that. Yet, in the last year or two I have learned a great deal.

I had private training in graphic design and website design. I learned Photoshop 6.0, Dreamweaver, and a load of other programs and software. Yet somehow I ended up in private security as a career. I needed a job right away, and there is always work in private security. It was during those years as a security officer that I forgot my training, what I'm all qualified to do.

While working third shift in the freezing outdoors, I would think of ways to make money online, even if it was just some extra income. I tried my hand at affiliate marketing, I tried selling things online through an affiliate online store, (where I made some income). Everything I tried at failed.

When I started out with computers and the internet, there was no Google, blogs, or YouTube.

Then one day I recalled all of my training in graphic design. I had talked to people who wished they knew how to make an income online. So, I put the two and two together, and figured out how to put everything together!

See, after a car accident in 2008, which left me disabled, I can no longer work for someone else. I can no longer do physical work. Sometimes I can't even work on my computer. It's during the times I can work on my computer that I put it to good use, by helping others.

So, I recently began work on putting everything together that I have learned through the years, in an effort to help others!

Basically I am concentrating on creating videos and implementing them with my website. My work focuses on helping beginner's, those that know nothing about where to even start.

There is much work in the coming months and perhaps years, as I said, I'm just in the beginning stages.

So, it's is my hope that whoever is looking to get started in earning an income online, they'll keep up with this Hub.

After all the people I've talked to, they asked me "How do you make a profit with video"? How exactly do you get started? What kind of videos do you create? Can you teach me?

After thinking about it a while, I thought, Yes! I can help you get started in creating videos. What kind? Well that's the part I have to leave up to you, because only you know what you are capable of, yet I can help you get started.

That's why I recently started video tutorials for beginner's.

My goal is to teach people, beginner's in video editing. I'm starting with the basics. After that I'll cover implementing your videos with your blog or website, and include affiliate marketing!

So if you are a beginner and would like to know where to start, or know of someone who would be interested, the following videos are just the start. There is a lot to learn.

Sometimes there are segments in a video clip that we don't want, like when the interesting part is at the end, but you have to watch the whole clip to see the good part. Thankfully there is a way to cut out the portion of the clip you don't want. And yes, sometimes you even have to cut some portions for time. Thankfully there is a way to cut out the portion of the clip you don't want. In this video tutorial I'll show you how, and how to get rid of the black!

Would you like to know of a way to design your own professional video intro, or outro without any expensive graphic design programs, or, paying for it? It's easy! You use your own material. The video below shows you how!

In tutorial part 3 I realized I made a mistake, as usual, by saying the word splitting a clip, when I actually meant to say cutting a clip. The two are actually different, and in the following video I clarify that. Then of course I make several more mistakes by saying Left click, when I meant to say Right click. Hopefully I'll get better as these tutorials continue, but I just hope people can benefit from these tutorials.

It's quite different from tutoring someone in real life as opposed to making video tutorials. Don't ask me why, it should be easier.

I figured I'd also add the explanation of Set Start Point and Set End Point.

For those just starting out in creating videos, there are a number of sources available on the internet where you can get free video backgrounds for intros and outros, and free background music. Of course YouTube also offers free background music in just about every genre, as they have had for quite sometime, but just recently they have updated their music choices.

The following video I show you where you can get free video backgrounds, free music, and I show you how to create your video intro/outro with the free material.

Some people, specifically newbies, are not aware that whatever project it is they are working on, can be Saved. In Windows Live Movie Maker, they are not aware of the Save function, so they end up closing their unsaved project and end up starting from the beginning. A practice like this is very frustrating and can be time consuming.

In the following video tutorial, I show how to Save, Render, Upload your video, and explain the difference in Saving and Rendering.

I will have more tutorials on not just editing in Windows Live Movie Maker, but also how you can optimize your videos, what camera you can start with, and many more exciting things on the way!

Before you begin with any kind of video production, or even setting up your YouTube channel, there is something that must be done first, and that is to carefully think about the niche you would like to operate in.

Now you may have heard that word before, and still have no idea what exactly a niche is, but it is of great importance if you wish to succeed in your online ventures.

So what exactly is a niche?

I like to think of it as one's field of expertise, or, someone's passion! A niche is something someone knows a great deal about and can in some way, benefit others. Better than that though, it has to be something that your are truly passionate about.

See, if you choose the wrong niche to operate in, you could end up wasting your time and energy, and end up with zero reward.

So, to make it easy, straight forward, and fun, I've created a list of steps to follow.

This is the point where you might want to get a pen and paper, and give this some thought:

1. Write a list of your passions.
2. Is it possible for you to become the best at it in the world, or at least one of the best?
3. Can you make money from it?

One easy you can find your niche, or passion, is to write a list of the following:

• Your education
• Job or self-taught skills
• Hobbies

Once you have an idea on what you are truly passionate about, it's time to move on to the next step.

Ok, you may be thinking "A video camera for beginners?, it's got to be a poor quality one if it's for beginners!"

We all start out as beginners and start out with the basics until we can move up to something nicer, fancier, or, more high-end. Yet, not everyone is made of money.

So in this video I discuss what video cameras a beginner can start out with for YouTube videos. Some are readily available, some you may already have, some are more advanced, and some may surprise you!

I made this next video, which is a personal vlog, to explain to my viewers why I'm so slow in making the next video, which was supposed to be about Easy and Affordable Lighting Solutions for Online Video. Being sick is not easy, especially when you have things to do, or deadlines to meet.

Ok, I make the personal vlog explaining why I'm slow in producing more videos, then out of the blue at 2 A. M. I come out with another tutorial on how to design your YouTube Channel Icon in Photoshop 7.0! Go figger!

When you're just getting started in creating video for YouTube, it's hard to find the right lighting solutions, and where to find the right answers even where to start. Basically instead of investing in expensive and professional video lighting equipment, you can use what's available, and of course, there are very affordable solutions as well!!! I deleted this video due to the fact that I didn't like it. I am in the process of making another one, even better!

If you've been looking for affordable audio soloutions and a way to record your videos without being tied to your recording studio or home, I've discovered some really affordable solutions. One comes with it's pros and cons, but I'll explain in this video how to work around the cons.

This video tutorial is How to Design Your YouTube Channel Art in Photoshop 7.0

On April 1, 2013, YouTube initiated the OneChannel design and offered a free download for the templates, one of which is a .psd file for Photoshop users. When YouTube released this design, many people were upset that there was yet another headache to deal with. However, as it turns out, in my personal opinion, the OneChannel design is much better and allows YouTubers to be even more creative. Also, this design was released all due to technology changes. We don't just watch YouTube on our desktops these days, or on our laptops. With the introduction of Smart TV's, Smartphones, and tablets, a new design was required, so viewers can watch videos and see everything!

In the following video I reveal a better explanation.

The following video shows you how to design your video thumbnail for YouTube. What are thumbnails? Thumbnails are like mini poster advertisements for your videos. When you make an interesting one, something that pertains to your videos, it lures in viewers.

Creating a channel icon, channel art, and a video thumbnail, is just part of optimizing your channel. When you optimized, you create a way to gain more viewers, and potentially more subscribers. Subscribers are what YouTubers shoot for, as they are the ones that watch more video, they will come back again and again, and they will be the first one's to see your new uploads. So it is very important not only to create awesome videos loaded with great and valuable content, but also, to Brand your channel! It also makes you look pretty professional

Youtube has this feature called Invideo Programming, which allows you to add a watermark to your videos. This watermark is your logo which is featured across all of your videos, and you only have to upload your watermark once.

There are different ways of designing your watermark, but this video shows just one easy way. In the next video I'll show another way, in another program.

You may have seen them. The starburst background in video thumbnails, and you'd like to know who to make them! Like with the channel icon, there are a few ways to make them, but in this video, I show you two ways to make a starburst effect in Photoshop.

In my Invideo Programming video where I teach how to make a watermark, I promised I would make another video on how to make a watermark with text and an image. I haven't been able to make another tutorial in quite some time, as I have been very, very busy. The car broke down, again, which required me to removed the heads, which of course, will be another video. But alas! Here's the second part!

This hub was not intended to be about Photoshop tutorials, instead, it was meant to give you ideas on how to make money. However, much of the artwork methods you see in my videos, can be used in your Youtube artwork; channel art, channel icon, and video thumbnails.

The next few videos will pertain to video recording tools. I will begin another hub solely based on Photoshop tutorials.

In this next tutorial, I show you how to add a reflection to your text, and, I begin using keyboard shortcuts.

Ok, here is the last Photoshop tutorial. I'll then resume getting back on how to make money online with video. I'll explain more about monetizing as well!

OK, I did say that last video was going to be my last Photoshop tutorial, as my plan for this hub was to show you how to make money online via video. Looks like at this point I may have to begin another hub on just Photoshop tutorials! But I do have one more PS tutorial on the way, as it pertains to YouTube. However, for right now, I have a new video on a review and fix for the CAD U1 USB Dynamic Recording Microphone.

A good mic comes as a necessity when you want to have good audio, and having good audio is an essential in creating good video. In fact, audio is so important, that you can have bad video, but if the audio is good, you are certain to keep your viewers. After all, if you listen to a video and can't hear what is being said, what do you do? Most likely like me - you click to another video.

Now there is a few things I missed in this video, and that was to show you the on/off switch on the mic, and give a good close up. I may have to re-do this video. But until then, if you are thinking about buying this microphone, or already have and are considering returning it because of the awful sounds, then you will want to watch this!

I have recently completed a video tip on how to record your videos the right way with your smartphone. I have seen way too many videos on Facebook, YouTube, and even on TV, that I thought it was time I release a video tip.

What could be otherwise really good videos, are completely ruined by the person recording, holding the phone the wrong way.

The video that was here, has been deleted as I was having issues with YouTube monetizing it. I still don't understand why, when all the background music I use is either purchased, for lifetime use, or I was given royalty-free music. It's a rather frustrating issue, but I've decided to re-do the video!

If you have a good video but can't be heard, you will lose viewers.

I have come across quite a few videos that would otherwise be very good, but because I couldn't hear what was being said, even with my volume turned all the way up, I left the video.

So audio is another very important element for a good video.

I did another video a few months back on the PYLE PDWM96, but that was more focused on an affordable mic for beginner's and a review. I never went into the importance of good audio.

I'm working on a video right now on how to get affordable audio, and I'll show you the difference with this mic, and without.

In this next video I'll show you what the Audio-Technica sounds like on a smartphone and an iPod. On both devices I first try the mic without the adapter, then with. I think the iPod wins, hands down!

In this next video I show you how to easily change eye color in Photoshop. I have brown eyes and I wanted to know what I would look like with blue eyes. However, in this video the image I used of myself, the lighting was not good, but my intention was to show you how the steps are done.

I will make another video with better lighting on my eyes, and, I will use someone else with blue eyes!

If you ever wanted to know how to cover up that gray hair, just touch it up a little, I'll show you how in this Photoshop tutorial!

I forgot one thing - to zoom in on the image so you can see better what you are working on.

When you use the burn tool, you can use any size of brush you feel comfortable with, but keep in mind, the idea here is to keep the hair as natural looking as possible.

Also, just so you know, you cannot completely get rid of the gray hair, but once you are done, you will see a noticeable difference.

I'm not giving up my Photoshop tutorials, yet in a few of my upcoming Photoshop tutorials, you will need what I have.

To find out what you need that I have, watch the video below:

The following video is a bit late, since YouTube enabled a new feature, back around the end of April or the first part of May, 2014, which allows you to begin accepting tips from your viewers! Your viewers can tip you any amount, $1.00, $5.00, or any amount of their choice!

Well, as the saying goes, "Better late then never"! So in this video, I show you how to set up your tip jar!

The following video was not planned. I had no idea I was going to make a video review of the Logitec h110 stereo headset, in fact, I had not even tried the headset out. I was only able to hear the difference when I played back the video! Hope you enjoy!

Another affordable recording tool!