What are some things that your family has done (or are doing) to supplement the one income?

What did you use the money for?

I have been selling on ebay, have had garage sales, do surveys and mystery shops.

Last summer my dh mowed our neighbors yard after he regular mower got sick.

We use the money for extras and to help with debt.

Working overtime and doing housekeeping. When I work overtime I can put extra money in my EF and doing the housekeeping helps me not go in my savings. Housekeeping pays for gas and some of my groceries.

We sell craft items and the money is used for extra things we might need or to do some fun things.

We've also had a couple garage sales as well.

Hubby clears our neighbors snow and he & Mark also split the neighbors firewood for him. Mark earns extra $ for himself by helping the same neighbor harvest and haul his wood.

I've done several things down through the years. I used to babysit some, have had garage sales, worked at a couple of party plan businesses, had a couple of video stores for a while but what works the very best for me is to work very hard at managing the money that we have coming in at all times.

In the past I have...

*done a certified family child care home (for one year until I had baby #2) I made decent money and had school aged children only so I was enjoying them. We played games and went bowling and on trips :)

*collected junk that neighbors were throwing out for stuff to sell on ebay or consign at a thrift shop (around the military people are always moving and throwing out lots of good stuff) :D I still do this. Everyone knows to check with me before tossing anything! Hubby HATES it :toothy:

*when we lived in GA I would go to an outlet the day they did new markdowns and buy everything that was 95% off to sell on ebay. It usually did really well because it was new with tags stuff. I would peel the markdown off and leave the store tags, and sell at about half of the tag price. Whatever didn't sell (most of it usually did) I would store and list later or yard sale.

*mystery shopping, but the paperwork that needed to be done usually wasn't worth the $ they gave.

*Also when I lived in GA I did actually get quite a bit (average $50 month) from doing surveys. Pinecone was my favorite. Those $3 and $5 checks add up! Since coming overseas we don't qualify for alot of the product tests that I miss so much :(


Whenever I do something to supplement our income the rule is HALF goes to savings or for a rainy day and we can spend half. :D

I sell on ebay.

We sell on e-bay (helps with the decluttering goal too!) and my husband substitute teaches at the area schools. I used to give piano lessons when we worked in a Christian school (free use of facilities) but I don't now that we have our 2 girls. I teach my younger brother for free and would like to do more as my girls get older. I also worked part time at Michael's Craft store but my husband can make more in just one day of subbing so I gave that up. We don't want daycare to become necessary and we only have one vehicle, so some of our options are limited.

Mommy2five,
Could you tell me about doing surveys for the Pinecone checks. Is it just a Ga. thing??
I live in Louisiana.
Thanks!!:D

I sell on ebay some and do surveys. Most of the surveys I do are either buzzback (the most I ever got paid was $5 and won $100 from a drawing) and surveyspot. I've only been with surveyspot about a year but I've won $60 so far :) They mostly have drawings to. A couple of times it was for Amazon GC's but I never qualified for those surveys.And about a month ago I did a product test...can't give the details but I got a 1 oz bottle of perfume :D

www.surveyspot.com

www.buzzback.com

I think anyone can sign up...no invite needed :)

DH sells on ebay and sells car parts through his wholesale account.

I sell quilts that I have designed (through word of mouth so far.) and have made bridal handbags and accessories (past business) that I used to sell at a local bridal boutique and special orders through word of mouth.

The money usually goes into savings unless it is used to pay for something else that we need. Most of the extra money I earn goes directly back into my business.

pinecone research. They are a survey site that pays $5 for surveys and product testing. You have to find a banner ad to register and they accept different people at different times. I had to withdraw my membership when I moved :(

Next time I find a thing posted somewhere I will post it here! ;)

Over the years I have had a daycare, I still have two boys in the afternoons.