Show me the MONEY
My son, Xander, 17, told me about his friend, Ali, who came up with a way to make a few bucks. Their school doesn’t sell soft drink at the canteen, so Ali goes to the supermarket before school, buys a few six packs of sugary bubbles and sells them to his classmates at a profit.
It got me thinking about how we’d all like to start 2024 with a few extra coins in our pockets. There are ways you can do this, and without giving your friends cavities!
Just remember that any extra income you make may affect government payments and tax, so do your homework first.
SELL
I have boxes of books I’m never going to read again, piles of board games the kids are too old to play, and stacks of jigsaw puzzles that have been completed once then packed away.
It’s all saleable stuff just sitting there gathering dust.
I wish I’d hung on to my childhood Barbie dolls. Since the movie’s release in 2023, pre-loved dolls have been selling for hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.
Take a look around your place – are there things you don’t use anymore that someone else might appreciate? If so, sell it online or have a garage sale.
I’m going to try setting up at my local Lions Club boot sale and see how I go.
DO
You can make extra money even if you only have small pockets of time available.
If you play a musical instrument, can paint or draw, or have a knack for maths or English, you could consider tutoring.
Or perhaps you have a green thumb and can help someone who is struggling to look after their garden.
Community social media pages and noticeboards are a good way to let people know you’re available to help them.
You could also try being a Mystery Shopper, or even sign up to be a TV and film extra. Check online for information about these. MAKE
If you have a hobby you love, or there’s a particular craft you’re good at, why not think about cashing in?
I love baking and experimenting with flavours, but there’s only so many cupcakes my family can eat. So when Xander was little, I made a few extra dollars baking for time-poor friends when their kids had birthdays.
I also had a friend named Deb, who’s brilliant with a sewing machine. For a few dollars she’d turn your standard, boxy band T-shirts into rockstar-worthy couture.