Name some ways you've bought extra $$ into your household budget

**homesteadmamma** · 08-20-2003, 11:40 PM

I always like to hear how others have brought extra $$ into their household budget.

We've done:

- craft sales every year around Christmas time
- we sell crafts all year round, on a smaller scale though than the craft sales
- I've hand quilted 2 quilts for our dd's music teacher
- we've had a couple yard sales

Tell us how you've made extra $$.

**mrscornbread** · 08-20-2003, 11:58 PM

sell back used textx that do not interest me

**Sara Noel** · 08-21-2003, 12:24 AM

I used to sell antiques and collectibles at antique/collectible shows and the flea market on Sundays. (I would buy at estate and garage sales and resell) I have also done freelance weddings and floral design. I did craft shows too. During the time I freelanced, I also did in home party sales to sell my work and also took custom orders from coworkers. (this was the best way at holiday time) My business name used to be Heart's Desire.

I sold on ebay for a bit too.
Once the children are older, I'd like to do freelance designs again. I miss just creating projects.

**MJsLady** · 08-21-2003, 01:11 AM

I did childcare mostly. I had an antuques business, that was the most fun! I might do that again sometime

**PrairieRose** · 08-21-2003, 01:20 AM

I've done childcare and for a while I sold home interiors. I've also saved cans to recycle.

**mustang80** · 08-21-2003, 07:26 AM

Right now it's eBay, mystery shopping, and we just had a big yard sale. We hope to have another one in September.

**Belinda** · 08-21-2003, 07:40 AM

I did childcare for about 2 years, and some typing, that's about it.

**sunshine** · 08-21-2003, 07:54 AM

Yard sales and mystery shopping are the biggest two currently.

I can work OT at my job (I make good money as a critical care RN- overtime is even better, plus they pay us $3/hr bonus to sign up for anything over our regular scheduled hours)

I've taught craft classes in the past for money, and sold my craft items at craft fairs. I've typed resumes, term papers, and so forth before the days of word processors and PC's. I also used to mend/patch clothes while in college- to make a few bucks.

I've recycled aluminum cans - especially in my early days of marriage when money was NIL! Sometimes it was the only way we had to buy nonfood items like Tylenol for the babies and such.

**Michelle** · 08-21-2003, 07:57 AM

I'm paying close attention to this thread...I'd love to make some extra money right now

**sunshine** · 08-21-2003, 08:05 AM

I forgot! Before I had to take diuretics for my blood pressure, I would sell plasma. I made $200/month doing that and it was so easy!

**paelthom** · 08-21-2003, 10:02 AM

Not much other than yard sales/moving sales. I am trying to sell some stuff now on ebay but its not bringing in any real money. Just haven't found the right stuff to sell.

**mommy2three** · 08-21-2003, 10:28 AM

i'm watching too michelle. we need money soooo bad. i need some ideas.

**AmyBoz** · 08-21-2003, 11:40 AM

I teach piano lessons after school which pays for my daughters daycare. I'm teaching a class on Frugal Living in the fall and plan on having my garage sale in two weeks.

**simplemom** · 08-21-2003, 04:19 PM

I buy brand name clothes from garage sales and take them in consignment at the *chic* Maternity and children's Friperie, near my home. I can make $5.00 a peice. They sell the clothes and phone me and we split half and half the profit.

I do serious couponing and rebates.(I try) and save $$$ by getting free stuff--this summer I got certificates to get 6 tubs of Hageen Daz icecream, 2 packages of Gillette razors for dh, 3 free Fantistik cream cleaner, 2 window cleaner from Hertel, and 3 checks of 3.39$ for something I forgot I sent for...

Doing this doesn't actually bring money, but I get free stuff. Last year I got free very good quality children's markers(3 boxes), colored woodened crayons, 2 boxes of waxed crayons, 4 free liquid paper, free pens...Isn't it fun?!

But this year, I would love to start doing crafts to sell. I will be working on this project this autumn.

**milach** · 08-22-2003, 11:29 AM

Right now, the only thing I really do are mystery shops.

I bring all outgrown clothes to second hand children stores and I get 50% store credit of their selling price. It's not $$$ in my pocket, but I can get "new" clothes I don't have to pay for.

I also trade in my used books at used book stores and get store credits there- again, I bring home books I didn't have to pay for.

I'm not artsy fartsy- but you know the mixes in jars? I've seen them at craft fairs for like $10.00 and I know darn well it doesn't cost $10.00 to make- so I was thinking that would be cool to try. And I have "recipes" for salt scrubs, milk baths and the like and those can't be all that much to make. Maybe one day, I'll be brave and try my hand at those to make $$$. Where I live- there's atleast 1 craft fair every weekend in the summer- so maybe I should try my hand at it.