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The current economic climate means that even if you have a very secure job, you are bound to be looking at ways to save money and make extra money. Follow our 8 money-making tips for making money in your spare time and you will not regret it.

• Clearing out your clutter

Most people have a loft, garage or house that is full of things they no longer have use for. There is bound to be someone out there who can make use of your unwanted clutter and would even be willing to pay you for it. Internet auction sites are a great way of selling high price items, but car boot sales can be a good way of selling lots of smaller items in one go.

• Using the internet

Uploading videos onto sites such as You Tube may result in the website owners paying you a share of the advertising revenue they receive on the page where your video is viewed. If you have a small business, advertising on Facebook and other social networking sites is a cheap and easy way to generate extra revenue. In addition, if you are a good photographer, some websites will pay you to use your images and if you have a successful blog, advertisers may pay to place adverts on it.

• Generate your own energy

Everyone is aware that using price comparison sites can help you save money on your energy bills, but few people are aware that if you generate your own energy using solar panels or wind turbines, you can sell any excess energy back to the National Grid.

• Extra work

Doing extra work at evenings and weekends is not something most of us would relish, but if your salary from your regular job only really covers your essentials, a few shifts a week working in a restaurant or bar could provide you with that little bit extra.

• Make money from hobbies

If you are a keen crafter or baker, it is possible to make money from these hobbies. Making and baking for friends and family could lead to paying customers as word spreads. Attending craft fairs, bake sales and advertising your business on social networking sites such as Facebook will also help to generate income.

• Competitions and Market Research

Entering competitions may be worth doing. Depending on what you win, it may be possible to sell the prize and keep the proceeds. Market research is also a good way of making extra money and you can now do paid online surveys from home. Additionally, you could apply to be a product tester or a mystery shopper, which means you can eat for free in restaurants and stay for free in hotels or even have your shopping paid for.

• Writing

If you enjoy writing, why not try making money from it. Set up an online blog and make money from advertising or write for the local paper or newsletter.

• Using your home

Rent out your spare room to a lodger or if you don’t feel comfortable with that, rent out your garage as storage space. In areas where parking is at a premium, people with driveways can even rent these out as parking spaces.

There are many ways to make some extra money, some of which are easier than others and none of which are guaranteed to make you a millionaire. It is worth choosing the right one for you and then you will already be halfway to making that little bit extra you need.

If you’ve got a pickup truck sitting in your driveway and need extra money, why not put it to work for you? As more people make the change to smaller, more economical cars, they have more of a need for people with trucks. Here are five great ways to make money with your pickup truck:

Help Someone Move

Have you ever watched a neighbor try to move, hauling carload after carload of stuff to their new house? It can take forever! Eventually, you’ll see a U-Haul show up in the driveway to help move the larger items like furniture and appliances. Why not offer your truck for the job?

Pickup trucks, especially those with larger beds, are great to use when moving house. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on moving vans.  Why not get some of that money for yourself? The next time a neighbor, family or friend is moving, offer them the use of your truck, for a small fee of course.

 Haul Dirt, Gravel or Mulch

With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to hire your truck out to haul landscaping supplies. Chances are that you know someone who could use some help getting mulch from the nursery into their front yard.

Maybe you know someone who is putting in a sidewalk or driveway. There’s no doubt that this person would be more than happy to give you $50 to use your truck for the day! It will be far cheaper for them and easy money for you.

 Garage Sale Delivery

People announce their garage sales in the newspaper about a week in advance. If a phone number is provided, call the homeowner and offer your delivery services. Decide what you can fit in your truck and what you can reasonable move, and then set your fee. The benefit is twofold: people will be more apt to buy larger items if there is someone available to move them, putting more money in the pocket of the homeowner, and you’ll also make money delivering the goods.

Plow Snow

Turning your truck into a plow will take an initial outlay of cash, but you’d be surprised at how many people are willing to pay someone to plow their driveway in the winter. Install a plow onto the front of your truck and go visit your neighbors. Charge $20 per driveway, get five clients and you can easily make $100 on a snowy day. If you show up on time and do a good job, word will spread and you’ll be making more money than you can shake a stick at.

Transport Junk

Everyone has something sitting in their house that they don’t want anymore, simply because they don’t have the means to take it to the dump. Offer to take items to the town dump for a fee. You won’t be able to make a living out of doing this, but it can be a good way to make some money on the weekends or your days off.

If you decide to put your truck to use for you, there are some great ways to advertise. Put an ad in the newspaper, post an ad on Craigslist, or even hand out flyers around the neighborhood. Think of performing one or all of these services.  It can be a great way to make extra money each month with a vehicle that would otherwise be doing nothing but taking up space.

Author Dan Nielson is a contract electrician and blogs for trucksping.com, a site that specializes in suspensions for trucks. They have everything you need from replacing an air bag suspension to leveling kits.

Everyone would appreciate a little extra cash, especially in this troubled economy. While finding a job right now might be difficult, finding some extra dough can be done at home. Here are seven ways to earn extra money from used items around your house.

1. Books

Any college student is aware of how much books can cost. Whenever someone is paying a pretty penny for a book, they could be sending you that money. Selling unneeded books is quite easy. The best ones to sell are obscure nonfiction, but it is worth researching the price of any extra book. The most popular sites to sell old books on are Amazon.com, BN.com and Half.com. All of these walk individuals through the process of assessing, pricing and listing a book. They each will take a nominal fee and small percentage when the book sells, but this is not paid if the book goes unsold. The downside of selling books is that you must monitor the listings at least twice a week.

2. Jewelry

Selling books is profitable, but takes patience. For a quick buck, take any old jewelry to a precious metal buyer. There are many businesses now buying platinum, gold, silver and other valuable metals. In most cases, the amount you will receive is almost the same at every store, so driving around for the best offer is rarely worth the hassle. Simply find a reputable metals dealer and ask what the value of your jewelry is. If you like the offer, accept it.

3. Electronics

Everyone has old electronics, and many of them are of some value. Whether you have an old cell phone, camera, computer, CD player, DVD player or other electronic device, there is a website that wants it. For many items, these sites are willing to pay. To see if your old electronics qualify, find an appropriate site and enter your model into the form.

4. Sports Equipment

Depending on what sport you played, the equipment might be worth something. Usually, people can get a significant amount for snow skiing equipment, such as skis, bindings and boots, provided they are not too outdated. Other sports that require a lot of gear are mountain climbing, football and lacrosse. Yet, even ice skates or a tennis racket can be sold. Any sports equipment might be worth something. This can be especially helpful for families with children involved in sports.

5. Clothes

Many people occasionally take old clothes to a second-hand store. Next time you head to the thrift store, first stop by private, independent stores, before you go to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. These individual stores will usually pay for fashionable clothes that are still in great condition. If you have only worn something once, or if there is a shirt that still has the tags attached, it could pay for a new piece of clothing.

6. Furniture

The furniture in a home is often among the most expensive items in the house or apartment. As such, it also will bring in the most money if sold. The most popular ways to sell furniture is through Craigslist.com or a garage sale. However, if the item being sold is extremely valuable, then selling it on consignment at a store might be the most profitable method.

7. CDs and DVDs

Even though people are increasingly turning to digital music and streaming movies for their entertainment, CDs and DVDs can be sold. These will not bring in thousands of dollars (unless you have a houseful of them), but they should be worth a few dollars. Best of all, they can be sold very quickly. Simply take them to a local used video or music store, as this media does not resell well online.
Everyone can find some things lying around the house to sell. No matter what you have, it can bring in a little extra money. In times like these, that extra money earned from things around the house will be greatly appreciated.