5 Quick and Creative Ways to Make an Extra $50.00

Sometimes you're short on cash and just can't seem to get any extra hours at work. You might need it to pay off some bills, or buy a ticket to that concert where your favorite artist is playing. Money isn't free, though, but luckily there are several ways you can build side income in your spare time. Here are five of our favorite ways to make that extra $50.00. 

Carpentry and Woodworking:

Here's a creative way to rise above artistic competition: woodworking. While most artists try to sell their ideas through print mediums, woodworking is a relatively less common form of commercial art. While many artists are interested mainly in selling an aesthetic piece, wood workers can make their pieces functional as well. You could carve keyholders, banisters, nameplates- you name it and it's probably a possibility. Good wood workers can easily sell commissions, and with little more than a carving knife and a block of wood, you can create a piece worth 50 dollars or more. 

Earrings out of clay:

Online customers will pay tons of money for custom jewelry, even if it doesn't contain any precious metals. Clay earrings are especially popular items for artists to make because they're fast, long-lasting, and easy to create for people new to sculpting. With your imagination, you can make abstract pieces that incorporate other materials, or maybe pieces based off of characters you created in a webcomic. The cost of creating earrings is relatively low, and the biggest determinant of your earring's selling price is their craftsmanship. 

Freelance Writing:

Freelance writing is easier than ever thanks to the internet. There are many websites looking to put all the hours you spent in English class to good use. Some places pay weekly, while others trade less regular pay for higher rates. The best thing about freelance writing is it's flexibility; you can work from virtually anywhere, meaning location isn't a factor when you're trying to make some extra money. 

Pawn shops:

Do you have some items lying around your house you no longer need? Pawn shops are a great place to take them, whether it be finding a buyer for your electronics at pawn shops in Fort Lauderdale, or selling off that saxophone in Seattle. It's not just instruments and electronics pawnshops are looking for, though. Many buyers are also hoping for items made of precious metals. Artwork is also a common buy for resellers; don't be afraid to take those off-the-wall things into pawn brokers. The worst thing that can happen is brokers will turn you down. 

Tutor in specialty subjects:

Anyone can quickly find a tutor for Spanish or Algebra, but if you have in-depth knowledge about a specialty subject don't doubt the money you can make. Do you know a lot about 3D printing? Put your expertise to good use for people interested in staying on the cutting edge. While lots of students want to learn French and Spanish, subjects like Arabic and Korean tend to have fewer tutors. You can put away a pretty penny if you're a speaker of a less popular language, especially if it's your native tongue.

Feel like 50 dollars is a lot to make? Don't give up. While it may require a bit of self-promotion and persistence, you too can make money on the side. You're in a world more connected than ever; think about all the people in need of the creative, unique skills and products you have to offer.

Author Bio
Karleia is a freelance blogger residing in Utah. Away from the office she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband.

Its Never to Late to Start a Home Business

Apple muffin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s great to have hobbies as they clear your mind, keep your fingers nimble and your brain active, but have you noticed how expensive many hobbies have become? The time has come to find hobbies which don’t break the bank or, preferably, ones that actually increase your bank balance. Make a list of things you enjoy to do – things you’re good at and things you’d be interested in pursuing. Let’s look at a few clever ideas. 

Start a Baking Business

If you’re lucky enough to be a great baker, this may be something worth investigating. Not only is baking a real talent but it’s also rather scientific. (If you've ever mis-measured the ingredients in a cake recipe you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to.) The average person would much rather buy a cake than bake one, so you already have that on your side. Start by selling your baked goods at small fairs and markets; set up a Facebook page with photos of your wares; hand out business cards to friends and family and also don’t be shy to approach companies about baking for them on a weekly or monthly basis. Sending over samples may be a clever way to tip them in your favour. 

Offer Home Organization Services

As you grow older you realise that there are many people out there who have spent their lives ‘trying to get organised’ with little or no success. If you’ve always had a flair for organisation and your cupboards are almost always neatly packed and stacked, there may be an untapped opportunity waiting to be uncovered. Offer your services to friends and ask them to pass on your business cards to their friends and colleagues  Place an advert in your local newspaper and on any community notice boards in and around your area. Speak to real estate agents, people who have recently moved into new homes and also to small companies who often don’t have the resources to employ an admin person full time. 

Turn a Hobby into a Business

Arts and crafts can be a costly pastime, but when you’re looking at it as being a potential income earning activity, the playing field changes. People are always looking for original, thoughtful gift ideas and if you can come up with something that goes just that little bit further or is great value for money, you’re heading in the right direction. If you’re really good at a certain hobby you could even consider offering classes. Many people find themselves glued to their computers on social media sites and playing games such as Intertops blackjack out of sheer boredom, but given the opportunity to attend a course in an informal setting and learn a new skill that they will be able to save them money in future, they are bound to consider it – especially if targeted and marketed correctly. 

Teach your Skill

Gardener Gardening (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s clear to see that the world is ‘going green’ and that its citizens have begun to take a pro-active approach to preserving the earth and its contents for future generations to come. In a time where there is much talk about genetically modified foods being unhealthy and organic produce being the best option, it may be time for you to start your own vegetable and herb garden. Not only will you save on having to go out and buy certain vegetables, but the convenience of having them on hand is priceless. If you have green fingers you may even consider teaching a beginners gardening class from your own home. While gardening may sound simple and straightforward to you, for many, both young and old it’s a daunting task, but given the right guidance, many successful gardeners may emerge.
There are hundreds of hobbies one could consider pursuing, but remember, unless you enjoy it and are relatively good at it, you may want to look further down on the list. Don’t feel hedged in – you may decide to make beaded jewellery this month and candles the next – as long as you have a diverse client base, the world is your oyster, but be warned: if you land up with a closet full of goods that haven’t sold, you may need to reconsider your hobby of choice and spend some time investigating what the market is actually interested in buying.