User Panel
Posted: 9/2/2015 3:52:27 PM EDT
Hey guys,
I am looking into earning a bit of extra cash every month. One of the members in our family has some unexpected medical bills, and I would like to help out as much as I can. Unfortunately, with three kids, one who is a new born, a mortgage, child support, a car payment, and money set aside for savings, even the modest amount I would like to contribute would be rough. We live well within our means. We do not eat out, or waste money frivolously, and even after tightening the belt, it would be hard to come up with the amount. I would like to earn an extra $400-$500 monthly. I have absolutely no mechanical or carpentry skills whatsoever, which sucks. I would like to find something that doesn't take too much time from my primary profession, especially with a book deadline approaching. Ideally, this would be something online ( I have a MAC) OR one of those jobs where you sit in your car or inside a building just watching paint dry. I have no problem working shit shifts, or doing manual labor. I would mow yards, but the communities in this area have HOA approved contracts. I can't help but think that, collectively, the hive has got to know about something. So let's see what we can come up with, and thank you guys in advance. ETA: This is NOT a plea for donations! I would sell every gun I own before I ever did that. Unlike many of the brave people on this site (RIP), this is not a life changing crisis. |
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[#2]
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[#4]
Buy inflatable moon bounce and website hosting
Start moon bounce rental business Rent out moon bounce and get paid to watch children have fun Pay off medical bill and have a moonbounce business |
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[#6]
Quoted:
Uber? View Quote That's what I was going to suggest. I've thought about doing that myself. In case OP isn't familiar https://www.uber.com/ |
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[#7]
Can you clean offices?
Years ago I got a job cleaning the office at night where I worked during the day. It was 3,300 sq.ft. space with 9 offices, lobby, bathrooms. I spent 1 hour on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday just emptying trash cans, cleaning and stock bathrooms and vacuuming the lobby. On Wednesday and Friday I spend 3-4 hours to clean everything. I got paid $350 per month for the work. Currently where I work we have a lady do same work in similar size office and similar schedule and she's paid $500 per month. |
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[#8]
Want to take surveys and get paid to be human and take tests? I used to do a couple of these before bed at night and a couple at lunch. A buck or five a day adds up and you can do them on the shitter if you have a laptop.
Amazon Turk |
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[#10]
Quoted:
That's what I was going to suggest. I've thought about doing that myself. In case OP isn't familiar https://www.uber.com/ View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Uber? That's what I was going to suggest. I've thought about doing that myself. In case OP isn't familiar https://www.uber.com/ I wonder what kind of money one could make? Or if they'd accept a large pickup with a lift and large tires |
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[#11]
Landscaping? Don't know what your climate is like this time of the year but Fall, especially Fall cleanups are good money.
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[#12]
Quoted:
Want to take surveys and get paid to be human and take tests? I used to do a couple of these before bed at night and a couple at lunch. A buck or five a day adds up and you can do them on the shitter if you have a laptop. Amazon Turk View Quote Any downsides? I'm looking at that now |
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[#13]
Quoted: Quoted: Want to take surveys and get paid to be human and take tests? I used to do a couple of these before bed at night and a couple at lunch. A buck or five a day adds up and you can do them on the shitter if you have a laptop. Amazon Turk Any downsides? I'm looking at that now it doesn't pay dick per hour |
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[#15]
Quoted:
Any downsides? I'm looking at that now View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Want to take surveys and get paid to be human and take tests? I used to do a couple of these before bed at night and a couple at lunch. A buck or five a day adds up and you can do them on the shitter if you have a laptop. Amazon Turk Any downsides? I'm looking at that now Not really, you are not forced to do anything and you can choose what you do. In a number of the surveys there is a "gotcha" type question to make sure your actually reading/doing them. It's considered taxable income if you make enough? |
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[#17]
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[#18]
Quoted:
Can you clean offices? Years ago I got a job cleaning the office at night where I worked during the day. It was 3,300 sq.ft. space with 9 offices, lobby, bathrooms. I spent 1 hour on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday just emptying trash cans, cleaning and stock bathrooms and vacuuming the lobby. On Wednesday and Friday I spend 3-4 hours to clean everything. I got paid $350 per month for the work. Currently where I work we have a lady do same work in similar size office and similar schedule and she's paid $500 per month. View Quote I would do that, but they have a SURPLUS of those around here. |
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[#21]
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[#22]
Uber.
Also check out focus/research group companies in your area. My buddy got paid something like $125 to taste beer for 2 hours. |
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[#23]
VAMPIRES!
They pay $200 a month for plasma.4x donations a month, and you get a snack, a soda, free WiFi, TV comfy chairs... What's not to like? |
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[#24]
Pizza delivery. good luck
There is also a link to get free tuna. Hey every little bit helps right. |
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[#26]
Go to a large car dealer close to you, ask for the Service Mgr and ask if they need help doing drive cycles. All that involves is driving cars and trucks until the computer completes self-diagnostics and clears engine and emissions error codes. Depends on the vehicle, but takes from 15 minutes to all day per vehicle to complete. And all you do is drive. They hate paying their techs $40 an hour to do it, and are usually on the lookout for some one to do it cheaper.
I'm retired and I do it on a contract basis for a measly 10 bucks an hour, but I average about $600/mo. sitting on my fat ass listening to Rush Limbaugh and drinking Big Gulps. I even sometimes run errands while doing it (hey, it's driving!). I make my own hours and come and go as I want. It gets boring, but it's a no-brainer to do. |
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[#27]
Quoted:
I would do that, but they have a SURPLUS of those around here. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Can you clean offices? Years ago I got a job cleaning the office at night where I worked during the day. It was 3,300 sq.ft. space with 9 offices, lobby, bathrooms. I spent 1 hour on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday just emptying trash cans, cleaning and stock bathrooms and vacuuming the lobby. On Wednesday and Friday I spend 3-4 hours to clean everything. I got paid $350 per month for the work. Currently where I work we have a lady do same work in similar size office and similar schedule and she's paid $500 per month. I would do that, but they have a SURPLUS of those around here. When I was younger, we'd do construction or landscaping. |
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[#28]
Are you former Mil? If so many armed security gigs will pay $20 + an hour.
If not try your local temp agency and get a part time gig. |
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[#29]
I have some relatives that finance a yearly fishing trip by selling campfire wood on the side. Do you live near any areas where people camp?
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[#30]
No wooded areas nearby. I am not former mil. There is no Uber in my location. Hmmm....what else is out there?
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[#31]
What are is you actual profession and what are your normal hours?
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[#33]
Quoted:
Go to a large car dealer close to you, ask for the Service Mgr and ask if they need help doing drive cycles. All that involves is driving cars and trucks until the computer completes self-diagnostics and clears engine and emissions error codes. Depends on the vehicle, but takes from 15 minutes to all day per vehicle to complete. And all you do is drive. They hate paying their techs $40 an hour to do it, and are usually on the lookout for some one to do it cheaper. I'm retired and I do it on a contract basis for a measly 10 bucks an hour, but I average about $600/mo. sitting on my fat ass listening to Rush Limbaugh and drinking Big Gulps. I even sometimes run errands while doing it (hey, it's driving!). I make my own hours and come and go as I want. It gets boring, but it's a no-brainer to do. View Quote This. Plus Uber. Profit X 2. |
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[#34]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Go to a large car dealer close to you, ask for the Service Mgr and ask if they need help doing drive cycles. All that involves is driving cars and trucks until the computer completes self-diagnostics and clears engine and emissions error codes. Depends on the vehicle, but takes from 15 minutes to all day per vehicle to complete. And all you do is drive. They hate paying their techs $40 an hour to do it, and are usually on the lookout for some one to do it cheaper. I'm retired and I do it on a contract basis for a measly 10 bucks an hour, but I average about $600/mo. sitting on my fat ass listening to Rush Limbaugh and drinking Big Gulps. I even sometimes run errands while doing it (hey, it's driving!). I make my own hours and come and go as I want. It gets boring, but it's a no-brainer to do. This. Plus Uber. Profit X 2. I would very much like to go the Uber route, but it is not available in my home based city. The idea of driving cars for a dealership sounds nice. I can look into that. Thanks for the ideas. What else do you guys have? |
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[#35]
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[#38]
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[#40]
Depends on your skills. I do a little extra computer consulting on the side and work whatever hours I want and can pull in on average an extra $1k a month. I do maintenance and upgrades on servers. You would be surprised at how much competent admins are needed in small businesses.
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[#42]
You could join the military reserves/national guard and make a few hundred dollars a month. You could also buy tricare medical insurance which you could use as a supplement.
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[#43]
Store inventories-these guys are literally always hiring.
www.rgis.com |
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[#44]
Quoted:
Metal scavenging/scrapping? View Quote Metal has taken a nose dive lately, so you may not recoup your gas. Op, you might want to look at unarmed security. Around here, they pay you $10-$11/hr to drive around and check on businesses. They always need people for graveyard shifts Friday and Saturday nights. |
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[#45]
Get a paper and call all the tradesmen that advertise. Lots of guys looking for day labor for construction, cleaning, landscaping, etc.
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[#46]
Quoted: Want to take surveys and get paid to be human and take tests? I used to do a couple of these before bed at night and a couple at lunch. A buck or five a day adds up and you can do them on the shitter if you have a laptop. Amazon Turk View Quote |
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[#47]
There has to be a cheap old man within walking distance to his house. I would bet that the old man needs gutters cleaned, he probably has stuff in his basement and garage that he needs hauled out or advertised on Craigslist, might need his deck stained or his car detailed. That old man probably goes to the local coffee shop every day or two and meets with other old men who also need things done but don't have the back or the family to accomplish it. I've got about half a dozen old men I can call on rain days or days that I don't have work lined up, two of them with acreage, and there is always something that they need done. You'll also learn a few tricks along the way (1" PVC pipe is great for moving big, heavy items).
Pizza delivery was one of the best jobs I ever had, if you have the vehicle for it and the willingness to learn some basic automotive repairs. IMHO, it's not worth it if you are paying someone else to do the bulk (or any) of you maintenance. A $120 brake job will run you $400+ at the neighborhood shop and more at the stealership. It sounds like you can afford to learn a trade or three. Pick up the cheap stick welder from Harbor Freight, visit the local scrap yard and pick up some worthless hunks of metal and learn how to run a bead and what a duty cycle is. Buy a pressure washer and advertise pressure washing services for sidewalks, decks, patios, houses and garages. I'm sure your whole town isn't HOA; pick up a lawn mower and a trimmer and pick up a couple $20-$50 lawns, that's a few hundred a month easy. DO NOT SCRAP!!!! I'm still sitting on a bunch of scrap because prices are so low right now. OP, I've never worked less than two jobs and have always sought out side work. I've shoveled bat shit out of barns, rewired trailers, built (I guess that's what you call it) rip raps, split firewood, picked up dog shit out of minefield yards, raked leaves, acted as a caregiver for the elderly, trimmed trees, pulled weeds, laid mulch, waterproofed basements, scrubbed carpets, removed carpets, emptied sheds and garages, moved furniture, helped move, scrubbed walls, hung and finished drywall, built interior walls, painted, removed paint, sealed driveways, fixed mowers and other small equipment, shoveled gravel, raised sheds, fell trees, built retaining walls and even got paid to shoot coyotes and deer. All of this, and more, was done on the side with cash in hand at the end of the day. Talk to people. Be honest, say you are looking for a buck and are not afraid to earn it. The people with the money know how the economy is and they respect the honesty as much as they do the hard work. Not everyone wants a professional job, no one wants to pay professional money and everyone needs something done but can't or won't do it. Not knowing how is not an excuse, you can learn almost everything you need to know from the internet with due research. Tools, obviously, can get very expensive very quickly and can be cost prohibitive. It doesn't make sense to go out and buy a several thousand dollar TIG welder or thousand dollar Stihl chainsaw if you are going to do it once. However, you can pick up a lot of tools at great prices by cruising yard sales. Also, if you pick up work with the old men, a lot of them can't use what tools they have anymore and might give you things here and there along the way. My first job was shoveling shingles for an old man at the ripe young age of 12. This man introduced me to an older man that used to contract that he knew, knowing that I legitimately needed money at 12 and that I actually work for it. Before this man passed, after about 5 years of working for him a day or two a week, he gave me almost all of his tools which are now some of my most prized possessions. That old stainless Craftsman drill has ungodly amounts of torque and has never needed anything outside of the cord that I once cut through. Seriously though, find yourself an old man. I don't mean to make them sound like sugar daddies or anything, but they have the money, they have the tools, they have work that needs done and you'll find yourself learning a ton of things you never dreamed of. Hell, you might even make a friend who occasionally sends you home with a homemade bottle of pear brandy (pears you picked from his tree) or some home brewed wine. Their wives have sent me home with apple pies, apple sauce, apple butter, leather jackets (I have no idea why, but it is a really nice jacket), cookware and even small kitchen appliances. These are what I've considered bonuses over the years because I've always been paid for services rendered unless we explicitly negotiated a barter for a tool or training in a skill or trade. They will work with your schedule. It will be the best job you ever had. I'll be 28 this month. This kind of work has helped me buy my second house in almost exactly 10 years, paid for 10 vehicles (I had 5 at one point) and paid for my dumb ass decision to drink and drive. It's bought tens of thousands of dollars in tools, bought a metric fuck-ton of booze, and paid for a surgery and physical therapy. I also delivered pizzas part time for about two years. Head this advice if you know what's good for you; work at a mom and pop shop and not for a chain. A lot of people will stiff you, you need to make sure you are making guaranteed money every time you leave the door - even if its just a buck or two. A lot of places won't even give you that and expect you to use your own vehicle. ITS NOT WORTH IT. I was pulling Th-Sun for 18-20 hours and going through tires every six months at the latest. Your battery, your spark plugs, your catalytic converter, your oil and your brakes will hate you. Mark my words. Make sure you are getting something every time you leave the shop or don't take the job if you decide to go this route. I hope this helps. |
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[#49]
Quoted:
Not really, you are not forced to do anything and you can choose what you do. In a number of the surveys there is a "gotcha" type question to make sure your actually reading/doing them. It's considered taxable income if you make enough? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Want to take surveys and get paid to be human and take tests? I used to do a couple of these before bed at night and a couple at lunch. A buck or five a day adds up and you can do them on the shitter if you have a laptop. Amazon Turk Any downsides? I'm looking at that now Not really, you are not forced to do anything and you can choose what you do. In a number of the surveys there is a "gotcha" type question to make sure your actually reading/doing them. It's considered taxable income if you make enough? ALL income by any means is taxable income........ |
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[#50]
Find stuff to sell from yard sales, thrift shops, flip it on eBay
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