In just getting out there, serving others, truly enjoying myself,  I had a few opportunities come about to help create a little income for me.  Just to begin, I am on craigslist (www.craigslist.org) a lot!  Most everything we have I found there, our kitchen table, kids toys, cars, baseball stuff, etc.  Well it turns out that is a great place to sell stuff (I am sure y’all new that), most of the time I sell things at the same price I bought them for.  So in order to get some quick money, I began to sell everything on craigslist… now I am not saying sell your couch and sit on the floor, but look around, in your garage and attic, you will be surprised what you can get rid of with a little time spent posting and arranging pick up.  Now have you ever thought of selling someone’s stuff that you know who may be too busy to do it themselves?   For a 20-50% commission?  I have had some doors open up to me in this way as well.  Just think about it… an item you sell for $200 can bring you in $40-$100.  You don’t have to get a babysitter, it doesn’t take a lot of time, and it’s quick money.  I just sold an old copier (not working very well), on craigslist, for $240 for my church!  Every little bit counts, but it’s listening for a need that brings opportunity, the church was going to throw it away! And I was there “serving” on cleaning day.

Next was consignment sales….  I always thought, boy that’s a lot of work, for not a lot of money…  but I had 4 years of boys clothes, and a ton of baby stuff, “just in case”.  My husband then said “absolutely not!”  So I went on a selling spree, with the time I spent, I made about $30 an hour… pretty good for not leaving the house, and even better because another chunk of debt is gone!  And if God decides to bless us with more kids, I will just go to a consignment sale and shop 🙂  Now there is a computer program that you can tag your stuff once and sell at multiple sales, hmm I wonder if they need someone to market their services to other churches? (again an idea to possibly make some money, don’t steal it, I am going to check into it, lol.)  So I was able to sell in 2 sales and not change any tags, and I made some money to take away debt.

I know of a family that both parents are working.  They get home late, and don’t want to cook (don’t blame them), so they order carry out a lot.  This is causing some health situations.  So what if I offered, to do what I do anyway (cook dinner), and make it for them too, for 4 nights a week, for $15-$20 a night, and they buy the groceries.   Or for a little bit more I will buy the groceries for them.  See it’s a win/win, I haven’t asked yet, but just through conversations I see a need, and find a way to fill it.  As one person said, it’s not rocket science, it’s perspective… sometimes we just need a different one.

Here are just a few ideas to get your wheels turning… What have you come up with?