Finance Roll

Number One: Collect Change

It may seem silly but don't discount the value of loose change. Those coins located all over your home really do add up. The nice thing about this way to make some extra money is it is very simple; it just requires some searching and collecting. Check everywhere, the floor, your car, the couch, under the cat, everyplace you can thing of. You can roll the coins and take them to a bank or if you don't have the time, take the coins to a local supermarket's coin star machine and for a small fee, have the coins sorted for you.

Number Two: Recycle

Here is another classic idea that really helps during tight economic times. Recycling is a simple and easy way to bring in an extra few bucks during the month. This is especially true if you live in a state that charges a recycling tax on recyclable materials. Not just paper, cans, or bottles, but also scrap metal. You may have an old bicycle or camper that you don't use anymore. This can be sold to some recycler centers for its scrap metal value. Depending on the weight and going price of the metal, it could be worth a few hundred dollar or more.

Number Three: eBay

While eBay has some limitations, it is still a good way to sell off junk you no longer want or need. Look around, do you really need 3 blenders? That old suit you never wear? Sell it on eBay to a large international audience. You can be clear on your terms and shipping costs associated with what you are selling should it should be a breeze. If you need help, there are countless self help books online, at the store, and at your local library (you don't have to buy one, use the library and save some money).

Number Four: Craigslist

If you are one of those people who no longer like eBay or you just don't have any money to spare, use Craigslist instead. Craigslist is not an auction site like eBay, but is more like an online classified (the kind in the paper but larger and online). Criagslist is usually limited to a local audience so be careful where you post your listing at. It also has less features then eBay so be clear as to what you are saying, the price, and any terms. It is a great way to get rid of junk around the house for no cost at all. Don't be afraid to post both on eBay and Craigslist! It is good to cover all bases in such tight economic times.

Number Five: Freelance Work Online

This is becoming a very popular way to make extra cash. The cost is zero and you never have to leave your home. Freelancing online means you find different tasks online that you are paid for. A nice thing about these freelance sites is they usually do not require any tax information so your privacy is protected.

One good freelance program is Amazon Mechanical Turk, where companies post tasks that machines cannot easily do, but that are relatively simple for humans. You choose an assignment, and, on completion, are credited with payment to your Amazon account. You can use this money on Amazon or they can pay after you earned over a set amount.

Another nice freelance program allows you to get paid for Market Research. Even in the poor economy, marketing is still a large business and marketers need demographic and other information to market products successfully. These research programs are like focus groups that you may have seen at the mall or at a hotel but instead they are done at home. Most of the research tasks take less then an hour with a very nice payout.

If you are the creative type, Online Book Writing may be your cup of tea. Many online publishers allow you to self publish, meaning you don't pay any fees upfront and set the price for your books or other publications. If you can sit down and write a single page a day, you could public a few books a year. That is extra money in your pocket with a very small effort.

Number Six: Rent Out a Room

One of the biggest expenses in anyone's budget is the cost of a home or apartment. Cut the cost out by renting out an extra room. Make sure you draw up a lease agreement and set rules down in stone. Don't rush into accepting the first person who wants to move in either. Screen applications carefully. This will prevent any nastiness in the future while you collect upwards of one third the cost of your living expenses!

Number Seven: Seek Help and Cut Costs

Unlike the only six, this one targets expenses and not income. However like the other six, this money making tip can put real cash back into your pocket. Do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Many food banks will give you food if you request. Even basic things like bread and pasta can save you money. Grocery stores will usually have discount of fee food at the end of the day or late at night. It sounds silly but use coupons and pay attention to sales! Most people who use coupons and by productions only on sale can save upwards of sixty percent off their food bill. This can equate to thousands of dollars of savings over the year!

You can take it one step further and grow food. Food gardens were very popular during the great depression and they are becoming popular again. Fifty dollars in seeds and plant care can equal hundreds of dollars worth of fresh, tasty produce. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and grow some crops.