With the unemployment rate sitting at 8.8%, many Americans are finding themselves out of work and struggling to make ends meet. But there are ways to make money without having a job. Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch shares the following tips to help pad your wallet. (Reuters)
Sell, Sell, Sell
Forget the traditional yard sale when it comes to selling unwanted or unused stuff around the house. The Internet is now the best place to get top dollar for your belongings. EBay and Craigslist are two of the many sites that offer a great opportunity to make some quick cash. (Reuters)
Earn $5 at a Time
Fiverr.com allows users to post for free what skills and talents they are willing to provide for $5. Surfers can then browse the site and if they are in need of your skill, they can contact you. So as long as you’re willing to put in the hard work for a Lincoln at a time, this Web site can add quick cash to your pocket.
Share Your Space
If your spare bedroom is busy collecting dust, consider adding a roommate to cut down on monthly expenses. Be sure to take the proper precautions (background and credit check, draw up a lease, set ground rules) before letting someone move in. (Reuters)
Advertise! Monetize Your Web Site or Blog
If you’re a blogger or Web junkie, it’s easy to turn your Web site profitable by letting companies advertise. MoolaDays can help you get started on the fast track to financial success.
Turn Your Tresses Into Cash
Companies will pay top dollar for healthy hair. WiseBread breaks down how cash-strapped people can sell their flowing locks.
Gift Cards: the Gift That Keeps on Giving
Most Americans let unwanted gift cards collect dust in drawers or in the back of their wallet, but there are plenty of Web sites that will give you cash for the prepaid plastic. GiftCardGranny.com can link you up with the highest-paying gift card resellers in the industry.
Put Your Body to Work
This might not be the first option for folks squeamish around needles, but some plasma banks pay up to $35 per pint. Federal regulations limit the amount of donations made in a week, but donors can still make some quick cash.
DonatingPlasma.org provides a searchable plasma-bank database to help you find a plasma bank in your area.
Become a Lab Rat
Colleges and medical school are always looking for participants in studies, and some pay between $15 to $2,000 for taking part in a clinical trial. The National Institutes of Health lists thousands of clinical studies that need volunteers. (Reuters)