CHALLENGE: Creative Ways to Make a Couple of bucks!!

[ScrappyDoo]

My hubby always "steals" the change to buy himself sodas or candy or something

[BlessedTwice]

My son was not able to get a job at any local place and we live in a subdivision with maybe 300 houses. I told him to start making up Flyers to stuff into mail boxes for lawn service. The attraction to him would be that he could do it on a one time basis, like if someone was going on vacatoin and needed the lawn mowed. He also said he could do dog walking, litter box cleaning and simple yard work on the flyers.

Well it worked! He now has 5 regular lawns, an extra lawn or two a week for temps and he has a few people that call him up to watch thier dogs when they go out of town along with one lawn that he mows every time they go out of town which seems to be 3 weeks every other month. I think he has one couple they just like his company and they have him come over once a week and he uses their lawn mower and does odd little jobs for them!

On his flyer I told him to put that he lived in the subdivision and that he was just trying to pay for college (which he is).

One job he got was to trim some hedges at someones house. She called him up the night before and he went over the next day. It took him about 2 hours to do the work she needed. She paid him $80 because she said she had called 2 other people and they just couldn't be bothered to show up!

Since Mid-summer he has also gotten a sign for the side of his truck he is called "A Boy with a Truck" and his motto is "I do the Grunt Work"

The jobs he has done-
taken furniture to GoodWill
Helped clean garages
pulled weeds
trimmed hedges
cut grass
weed wacks
edging
dog care
hauled stuff to the dump
dug holes


Come Xmas time he has already been told he will be needed to hang xmas decorations for one person.

Simply put, he does the work that people just don't want to do. Most of these jobs don't take much skill just effort and because he "needs" the money they pay him well.
He does all this with his little 2000 Ford Ranger that he bought for $3600 (well he is on his second, he smashed the first one that we paid $2750 for). He has purchased a mower since he started too (ours won't start anymore)-he has more than paid for his first sesmester of college and helped to pay for the truck we made him buy to replace the one he smashed.

You must be so proud! You have a hard working, ambitious son.

[swansong]

I opened a SERVE account at AmEx and got $10 in about 2 minutes. Then I opened a START account at USbank and got $50 in 5 minutes, with the promise of another $50 in a few weeks. Next I opened a trading account at Etrade and got a $500 bonus in less than 10 minutes. One more just to show off, I went to AVAFX and got $1000 in FREE $ just for opening a new account! If you are looking for something a bit smaller, then you should check all of the credit unions in your area as they often have deals for people who open new accounts. Everyone in your family who has a valid SS# can do the same. And you should be able to open, close and repeat this every year, as I do. Easiest and fastest $ I have ever made in my life.

[swansong]

YES, you can get paid CASH to play video games.
What happens at a playtest?
Play a new video game that is still in development, Tell them what you think about the game. Leave with CASH, FREE games, or other rewards!
I am sure that there are several companies out there you can work with but I use VGMARKET and they paid me $250 and free pizza for 3 days of game play.

[swansong]

These guys BrainIacs will pay your home mortgage AND they will paint your home for FREE. Saved me over $22,000! How is that for a super 2fer?

We're looking for houses to paint. In fact, paint is an understatement. We're looking for homes to turn into billboards. In exchange, we'll pay your mortgage every month for as long as your house remains painted.

Here are a few things we're looking for. You must own your home. It cannot be rented or leased. We'll paint the entire outside of the house, minus the roof, the windows and any awnings. Painting will take approximately 3 - 5 days. Your house must remain painted for at least one month and may be extended up to a year. If, for any reason, you decide to cancel after one month or if we cancel the agreement with you, we'll repaint your house back to the original colors.

[swansong]

Make $ while your not home by renting out your drive way as a private parking space.
I know of at least 2 companies which will help you rent your drive way

Parking Spaces, Driveways and Garages for Rent | ParkatmyHouse

Parking, parking lots, airport parking, Find daily and monthly parking spaces - ParkingSpotter.com

[momto8kiddos]

Do people really get paid from online surveys? How does it work?

Yes, people really do get paid. Some companies will send you a check in the mail. Other companies will pay you through Paypal. Other companies will send you a gift card of your choosing (from a group of GCs the company is offering). I've been paid all these ways.

Some companies pay better than others. That depends on the company as well as how well you fit their demographic and, consequently, how often you qualify for surveys.

[angeleyeza]

is this legit and real? seems too good to be true

These guys BrainIacs will pay your home mortgage AND they will paint your home for FREE. Saved me over $22,000! How is that for a super 2fer?

We're looking for houses to paint. In fact, paint is an understatement. We're looking for homes to turn into billboards. In exchange, we'll pay your mortgage every month for as long as your house remains painted.

Here are a few things we're looking for. You must own your home. It cannot be rented or leased. We'll paint the entire outside of the house, minus the roof, the windows and any awnings. Painting will take approximately 3 - 5 days. Your house must remain painted for at least one month and may be extended up to a year. If, for any reason, you decide to cancel after one month or if we cancel the agreement with you, we'll repaint your house back to the original colors.

[swansong]

You can be a “mail decoy”. Companies add you to their mailing list and you report back to them whenever you receive mail from them. This information is invaluable as it allows companies to know that their mail is being properly delivered in a timely manner. You report what day you receive the mail and in what condition it came. Companies also use “mail decoys” to ensure that their mailing list is never stolen. The mail is marked with a special code in the address bar so you know what pieces are junk mail and what pieces needed to be reported back to the company as having been received. For more info look here The Hauser Group | Become a Decoy

[maksmawmaw]

I have been reading this list and the one thing that I don't see on it is sewing. My mother took in sewing, my mother-inlaw takes in sewing. My DH is going to retire soon, thank goodness as his health says its time, and I think I am going to take up sewing some. Making bags/totes, hemming pants, sewing on buttons, etc to make a few $$. Maybe even have a yard sale on a holiday weekend, selling cold drinks too. I really enjoy cross stitching, and thought about making Christmas dated stuff. Every penny counts, best of luck to you.