Slide Show | August 2011

11 Ways to Get Extra Cash

By Cameron Huddleston

Editor's note: This slide show has been updated since it originally was published in 2009.

Who couldn’t use a little more moolah these days? If you’ve lost your job, taken a pay cut or are just looking for ways to boost your income, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance can help. Here we offer 11 smart tips for generating extra cash. See if any might put more money in your pocket.

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11 Ways to Get Extra Cash

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Sell Your Stuff Online

Kiplinger’s senior editor Jeffrey Kosnett and his wife made $200 selling flatware they no longer used through the popular online auction site eBay. You, too, can unload everything from furniture and furnishings to collectibles and clothing on eBay or Craigslist.


Sell your old, unwanted books on Amazon. Kosnett’s wife, Deborah, says the key to selling your wares on the Web is to research similar merchandise that has been sold recently through the site and price competitively.

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Sell Your Stuff Online

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Be A Shopping Spy

You can get paid up to $20 if you agree to browse a store and provide feedback on customer service, merchandise quality, and other quality-control metrics. Start by visiting the Mystery Shopping Providers Association’s Web site to see a database of jobs with legitimate companies. Sign up with several companies because it can take a while to be contacted. If you like to shop, can pay close attention to detail and can be dispassionate, this could be a good money-making opportunity.


One word of warning: Watch out for scams that require you to pay a fee or wire a cashier’s check.

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Be A Shopping Spy

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Operate A Call Center From Home

You might consider a job ($9 to $19 an hour) with a virtual call center, such as Arise Virtual Solutions, West Corp. or Alpine Access. As an independent contractor (or, in some cases, an actual employee with benefits), you would provide customer support for companies such as Office Depot, Sears, J.Crew and even the Internal Revenue Service.


In general, you must provide your own computer, designated telephone line and high-speed Internet connection -- and, in some cases, pay for your training to become a certified agent. But if you have the time, companies need “operators standing by.”

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Operate A Call Center From Home

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Tutor Students

Some parents are willing to pay big bucks to see Junior and Janie succeed. So if you speak a second language, such as Spanish or French, or have great math, science or writing skills, you might be able to earn extra cash imparting your knowledge to kids -- even college students -- for $20 to $30 an hour.
Check with local schools and universities to see if you can advertise your services on their bulletin boards. Or post your services on Craigslist.

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Tutor Students

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Join a Street Team

This is a relatively easy way for young adults who are outgoing and articulate to earn some fast cash. Street teams promote products, films, albums, events and more by handing out samples, interacting with people on the street, or dressing as mascots.


To get a job at $17 to $25 an hour, sign up with a company such as Street Team Promotion.com or A.D.D. Marketing. Actually, if you sign up with several companies, you’re more likely to get a steady flow of jobs. Make sure, though, that the company has a contract that specifies when you’ll get paid.

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Join a Street Team

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Walk the Dogs

Why not get a little exercise while you earn anywhere from $15 to $30 an hour? Working folks will pay plenty for you to take Rover or Scruffy on a daily stroll while they’re at the office.


If you don’t want to brave the elements, you might consider pet sitting for people while they’re on vacation. Advertise your services in veterinarians’ offices and on Craigslist.

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Walk the Dogs

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Be a Babysitter

Just graduated and can’t find a job? Retired and looking for a little extra dough? Like children? From full-time gigs to occasional stints, babysitting can be a fun way to put money in your pocket. In big cities such as New York and Washington, expect to earn up to $20 an hour as a babysitter or nanny. (In small and midsize cities, the going rate is closer to $7 to $10 an hour.)


Advertise your services on Craigslist, the bulletin board at your local house of worship, or by word of mouth.

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Be a Babysitter

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Write for the Web

Sorry, Kiplinger.com isn’t hiring. But plenty of Web sites are looking for freelancers to write blogs, commentary, and reviews for about $15 to $30 an hour or article. For example, if you know a lot about a particular subject or region, you might be able to be a “guide” and write articles for About.com.


In all major U.S. cities, Craigslist has ads for writing gigs. Demand Studios offers freelance work for writers, copy editors and filmmakers.

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Write for the Web

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Make Your Hobbies Pay Off

Amateur photographers are in demand to shoot weddings and events, especially in a recession when people are reluctant to hire high-priced pros. If you’re a great cook, you could hold a workshop or prepare meals for a busy family. Tech-savvy? You could teach classes on Web design.


See what your services might fetch by checking out ads on Craigslist or in your local paper or community Web site. Then hang out a virtual shingle.

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Make Your Hobbies Pay Off

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Sell Your Unwanted Gold Jewelry

The going rate for this precious commodity is more than $1,600 an ounce. That’s a pretty penny for jewelry you no longer wear or bling that reminds you of a best-forgotten suitor. Jewelry that's still wearable and in good shape can fetch a higher price elsewhere than it would being sold for scrap. Shop around at auction houses, estate buyers and jewelers to compare offers. If you want to sell your gold for scrap, Express Gold Cash has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

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Sell Your Unwanted Gold Jewelry

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Adjust Your Tax Withholding

This is probably the fastest and easiest way to put more cash in your pocket. If you got a big refund this year, you’re not alone: The average refund was nearly $3,000 this year. But think about it: You're letting Uncle Sam hold on to your money for a whole year and paying you 0% interest.
Why wait until next spring to get the money you really need now? To see how much you could gain by adjusting your withholding, try our easy-to-use withholding calculator.

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Adjust Your Tax Withholding

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More From Kiplinger

SLIDE SHOW: 11 More Ways to Get Extra Cash

VIDEO: Turn Clutter into Extra Cash

VIDEO: Earn Extra Cash with an Extra Job

VIDEO: Get Extra Cash From Your Assets

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