How to make extra income.

[starshard0]

Certainly Julie, if you're good enough you can definitley get sponsors for your hobby. Of course, you have to be awfully good and oftentimes you can't maintain a hobby like that your whole life (imagine trying to BMX in your 50's), whereas things like woodworking or pottery can go right into retirement.

[Julie Rains]

Obviously, not every one will be good enough to get sponsors. But athletes can still win prizes (including cash) or make a side income teaching lessons or helping others to train for example. My main point is that a hobby that doesn't involve making a product can still possibly generate income.

[dschill]

Look in the papers theres a lot of part time work in there sometimes..Just look at what skills you have and try to market them. Some people paint houses and some fix cars or do oil changes..It all just comes down to what your good at i guess.

[hermione]

My sister and I started sewing our own clothes back in college. Our first project was a dress for my senior year spring formal for which we hand-sewed a gown. It took us 3 days and I was up till 3AM the night before just hemming it (it took 3 1/2 hours to just do the hem by hand). But we had so much fun that we got a sewing machine not long after and started making all sorts of stuff - clothes, bags, book covers, curtains, etc.

My sister learned to draft patterns and we began designing our own clothes instead of just sewing from purchased patterns, and a few years later we started our own home-based business designing and making pet and horse costumes. We did quite well for a few years especially around 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas ... until last year. We're going to branch out into more common and cheaper things this year. But sewing can be a profitable hobby.

Another, somewhat unusual way to make extra money is competing in pet costume contests. One of our best customers is a lady who owns 3 chow dogs. Each year, she orders a fancy costume from us - she usually comes up with her own concept or an idea of what she wants and we develop the idea, design and make the costumes for her. She has spent as much as $400 on a set of costumes for 2 dogs, but she obviously makes enough competing to make if worthwhile. I think some shows award prizes as much as $100-$200.

Here are links to a couple of photos of costumes that have won several times:
George Washington and Betsy Ross
Victorian Style Gown

Of course, you have to live in an area where there are a lot of dog shows. We unfortunately don't.

[emilywebster]

Very nice ideas. I make money by selling my unused clothes.

[starshard0]

Originally Posted by emilywebster

Very nice ideas. I make money by selling my unused clothes.

Unused or used? I can't imagine you'd make too much money by selling unused clothes. Or used clothes for that mater, considering you would have had to shell out money in the beginning for them. More of a recouping of the costs really.

[SimplyMe]

I do surveys online. They come through little and often and they definitely add up.

[bizcash]

Wow some great ideas already posted. I earn extra with blogging, Adsense ads, and other ways which I post about on my blog. Saving money by using coupons and shopping strategies are ways to "earn" more as well, did you know you could actually save about a $1,000 a year by negotiating with your cell phone, cable providers?

[flipchick1127]

I actually have a page on my blog full of ways you can make some extra money online. These sites are so simple and easy that it feels as though I am stealing money when I use them. The link to the page is in my signature. It includes suggestions such as making money by viewing ads, by reading emails, by blogging, by performing web searches, etc.

[mikey123]

Yeah, I agree. In this day and age, you can make extra income by taking on online or at home jobs. Blogging and Google Adsense are great options as these are passive ways of earning income. I also have a section on it and other online jobs in my blog, feel free to check it out here. Some posts which I created cover information and tips on adsense, online writing, online transcribing or trasncriptioning, online tutoring, and many more. I really believe this is the best way to earn extra cash because it will not cut into your time with your family and loved ones as you can do these jobs at the comfort of your own home.