Ideas for raising $$$

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Since the majority of the civilized (?) world lives paycheck to paycheck, maybe we should do a little brainstorming on ways to raise some cash for preps. Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed by the task at hand, and not having mucho dinero to finance preparations can certainly add to the paralysis.

So let's think... where to find the money, and what to use it for...

For example, if one could find $5 in change under the sofa cushions, they could buy a case of canned beans.

What do you say?

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), July 15, 1999

Answers

Granted, I am in a rural area but I buy 25 assorted "leftover" chicks from mail order hatcheries, raise them up to about 3 months when you can easily sort the sexes and sell them for about $5-7.50 (depending on breed) using the local feed store bulletin board. Not a lot of profit but chicks can be as cheap as $.45 each when purchased this way (make sure you order straight run - not all males). I usually get quite an assortment of breeds, keep what I want, sell the rest (butcher and roosters left over). Usually clear about $2-3 per chick this way - by my best estimate.

I still see a lot of aluminum cans in ordinary trash cans, am considering asking local businesses if I can set up a clean, well- kept "recycling" can and collect each week.

I know a guy who works a regular day job as a paramedic supervisor but also took on cleaning (dusting, windows, floors, restrooms, etc.) several businesses after hours for some significant extra cash each month.

I look forward to seeing what other ideas people here have!

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), July 15, 1999.


Babysitting on Saturday nights.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), July 15, 1999.

Garage sale (I know, boring idea). Brings in a little money and frees up space for prep stuff.

With the job and homeschooling and critters and big garden, canning, drying, Y2K preps and all I have no time to take on another job of any type, so I've found money for Y2K preps by borrowing against retirement money and trying to live further below my means than I did before. I buy from used clothing shops, accept 'hand-me-downs' from friends and family. It's amazing how much stuff comes to me now that it's well known I will accept it. I look through the bags and boxes immediately, take what fits and works for me and the rest goes straight to the Salvation Army. I shop at garage sales for kids clothes and other items. Wait for regularly purchased items to go on sale, then buying several. Putting off purchases for a time can help a little extra money pile up.

In the past I have done some babysitting, a little catering here and there. We sell extra eggs from our hens (actually the kids' business) and plan to sell extra garden produce to friends, neighbors and family this year. A friend of mine who is an excellent cook made some money on the side by providing specialty lunches for co-workers.

Some ideas, for what they're worth.

-- Bingo (ecsloma@spectra.net), July 15, 1999.


For a whole bunch of ideas along this theme, go to my website and look at the article "Finding Y2K Prep Time".

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), July 15, 1999.


We took a lot of books to the local used bookstore and got $80 that way.

-- Jill (jdance@mindspring.com), July 15, 1999.


I think just about everyone has stuff they no longer use. Talk to a local auctioneer and see if you can consign stuff to a local auction (easier than a yard sale).

We use "found" money for various purposes (not paying bills) - money that is unexpected - like the check from Aunt Bessie or the unexpectd refund.

Reconsider you monthly bills - do you really need cable?, can you cut your monthly utility expenses (turn off the extra lights, donn't water the lawn as much, etc.).

Keep track of what you are spending money on and you might be surprised where the money is going.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 15, 1999.


Sell your Beany-Lladro-Hummel-Franklin Mint limitted edition what-nots. (Notice I said "your". If you touch your sposes, you won't be around to try and survive Y2k!)

These "collector" items are what taught me the "greater fool" principle but if you can get cash for neccesities for them, use 'em now while people still treasure such rubbish.

Or - talk to your local health food stores and see if you can sell some whole food products like whole wheat bread to them. This way you can practice with whole grain cooking and maybe make some cash on the side. (Just avoid Cory's dog food and noodle recipies. Only guys like me eat that stuff and a "whole" can of tuna doesn't count as a whole food. [Geeks raised on Cheetos and Jolt can live off of bathroom caulk and liquid toner in a pinch.])

Watch six and keep your...

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.net), July 16, 1999.


Hey everyone,

I agree with what Beckie said about selling old stuff that you won't be using and also starting a budget.

Someone who's interested in making Y2K preps for themselves might want to get involved with that as a second income type of thing. For example, you could start retailing a line of freeze-dried food and some food and water storage supplies that you were interested in purchasing yourself anyway. Find wholesale or discount suppliers that will work with you as a dealer. You could then buy an assortment of stuff that you will use yourself anyway (at your new "dealers" discount price) - and use it for back up inventory.

It seems like a pretty low risk way to get started and maybe make a few extra bucks if you set it up right.

-- Clyde (clydeblalock@hotmail.com), July 18, 1999.


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