How to make money - opportunity

As I sit here looking at my computer screen on the various sites that I have joined, I am overwhelmed by the amount of  How to make Money Online phrases that are used.  It seems like no one has anything to say or ask other than How can I make money.  Now that is either a sign of the times or something else.

There are so many ways to make money, yet it would seem that people are waiting for opportunity to knock on their door.  I was always told as a child that “If Opportunity Knocks you still have to get up to answer the door”.  We can turn our misfortunes into Opportunities if we just look into the future.

I live in a state that happens to be in the double digits of Unemployment and we are told that as of April 1st the extensions for Unemployment are going to run out.  I know some people who have received benefits for the maximum amount of time allowed, which it seems is now 44 months.  For those of you who don’t want to do the math, that is just 4 months shy of 4 years.  

More to the point, when these benefits run out, some folks are just going to have to take those jobs that they turned their noses down at almost 4 years ago.  They made more money on Unemployment then they would at a job.  So what does this mean?  It looks like one of two things are going to happen.  Either those low paying jobs will be taken or people will get creative and make new jobs.

There will be a few who take those jobs just some quick money with the hope of advancement.  Personally I feel that there will be many more who get creative and make work for themselves.  How?

Since we are in an age of computers, there are those who do some serious computer repair at home. This could turn into a lovely business! Even if it’s just cleaning out the dust! Some folks are afraid to take off the cover and do this.  Other's don't even know how to defrag their computer.

Spring is here, which almost always turns into summer (gotta keep the humor). People will want to do some gardening, not everyone has a rototiller. I do not, if someone were to come by and ask me if I wanted some ground turned over I’d be more than happy to pay them! Heck if I seen a flier I would surely give them a call. All they would have to do is turn my earth until I could work it, then maybe come back 1 more time during the summer and at the end of the season. I would be willing to pay for that, just so I could have a garden. I am only 1 person, think of all the people who would be wanting this!

Elderly people want flowers, maybe planting flower beds for them could turn a tidy profit. There is painting to be done.  Weeds to be pulled.  Lawns that need cutting.  Trees that need trimming.  Houses that need washing.  Yards that need raking.  Windows that need washing.  Wood that needs to be chopped for next winter. Spring cleaning to be done.

People are willing to trade or barter items for such work as well.  It may not put food on the table per say, but the items they are wanting to trade could be useful.   They could be sold for a profit or used to make a profit.  You never know what someone has to offer unless you give it a try.

I would say scrapping at this point but the amount of money to be made on scrap has went down drastically.  There is always curb surfing.  Where you drive by on garbage day, find something useful clean it up or repair it and sell it.

What if your not an ‘out of door’ type person?  What is there for you to do?  LOTS!!

There are an awful lot of young mom’s who have to work at those low paying jobs just to keep the medical insurance for their children.  Open your doors for babysitting, there are a few things you’ll have to do if you want to be registered within the State you live in.  But if not, that’s ok too, just a few kids and take the payment the mom’s can afford.

Can you clean?  Maybe having a house cleaning business is your cup of tea.  How about driving the elderly to the grocery store, or the bank?  They like the company and it gets you out of the house too!  Maybe they are recovering from an injury and need you to run to the store for them.  Now this isn’t going to net you a ton of money, but word gets around.

Are you a builder?  Can you build items?  Maybe crafting things for people is your niche`.  Building birdhouses or feeders could turn a nice tidy profit.  There is a growing need for items such as dollhouses, doll beds, doll furniture.  All made from scraps of wood, so you’re not out of pocket.

Building furniture, such as bunk beds can turn a tidy profit!  We paid $600 for 2 sets of bunk beds about 12 years ago.  This was well before the recession.  These didn’t include mattresses either, just the pieces of the bed, we had to put them together!

All you can find at the stores today are cheap paper covered end tables, coffee tables and dining room tables, nothing seems to be made from real wood anymore.  What I wouldn’t give to find some Real wood end tables and a coffee table!!

Do you play an instrument?  With the amount of parents home schooling these days music is suffering.  Are you able to teach music?  Go for it!

Can you cook? Maybe you could cook for families nutritious meals a week at a time. Because I am a fairly good cook I have been asked to do this for people. Busy Mom’s and Dad’s don’t have time or the energy to cook a nutritious meal so they end up running through the drive thru. All you’d have to do is figure out how to package it up for easy heating!

Selling jams and jellies roadside can turn a tidy profit as well!!

How are you at car repair? Do you have the tools do to oil changes, brake jobs, change spark plugs? Word of mouth travels fast with this kind of work. Treat your customers right and you will have so many you’ll have to keep a calendar!

Just keep in mind that everyone is having a hard time so keep your prices affordable. If you are trying to charge the prices that an insured shop has, you aren’t going to get the customers!

Always keep the customer in mind, word of mouth will get around.  Either you will be commissioned to do more work or you will be bad mouthed.  No matter what the job is, keep your prices fair and your work the absolute BEST, be kind and of course be honest.

How can you advertise?  Well that is where the barter comes in.  If your not computer savvy, find someone who is.  Trade them what you can do, for fliers, business cards, selling on e-bay or Craigslist.      

Do your best to see these times as an Opportunity rather than hard times.  It is your opportunity to get away from that boring job you really didn’t like into something you love to do!  Turn your hobbies into a business!  This is how you make money!

Have I given you an opportunity?  Well it’s up to you to get off that couch and open the door, to see who is knocking!  There are plenty of ways to make money, it may require some work on your part, but it’s there for you to earn.