Does anyone know what I can do for some quick extra cash? I'm broke!

[chicken_china_mom]

Quote:
I'm usually really good at budgeting, and knowing exactly how much money I have to work with each month, but I had the unexpected expense of not one, but two tires blowing, plus the cost of the towing on the second blowout, and that is what killed me. Normally I am a cheapskate (or so my family tells me), and I always have at least a little extra money to work with each month. I had already bought groceries right before the first tire blew, and then I got hit with that. I know something has to change. I think it's inevitable that I will have to give my two week notice and find something that pays better, and if possible is closer to the house! Cause I don't often get into this situation, and I don't like it. My mom is broke cause she paid all of her bills and had some other personal expenses come up. She had taken two of her cats to the vet, and it was on the way back from that vet visit that the second tire had blown. So that's why she's broke. She isn't usually broke either. She's nearly as much of a penny pincher as I am. Almost, lol. I told her that next month, when I have the money I'm looking into the Angel Food Ministries cause it will be a more affordable way to feed our family. But that's for next month. I'm going to go post some of my birds on craigslist, and maybe here too. See if I can get some money that way. And I'm going to see if I have anyone interested in the car.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Can you call a church or churches in your area and see if they could give you a little cash boost? Sometimes they will only give you a tank of gas, or food, but no cash because they really don't know what you do with it . . .but if they would even pay your electric or gas or something, just to get you through . . . so sorry, we live in scary scary times. . .keep the faith, things will get better. Your local CEFS office might be able to help too . . .

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm so sorry. i think many of us are just one paycheck away from being on the street. It's hard to plan when there isn't much cash to plan with.

The ebay idea is a good one. Sure, they take a cut, but it's a quick way to market your items to a whole world of people. Pictures do help, though.

A friend of mine sells books on Amazon, mainly her old college books. You don't need a picture for that.

You may want to check into public assistance in your area, like food stamps, AFDC -Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and like already suggested, your church or other local churches. Many places have food banks. Hey, is there a swap meet nearby you could set up a table and sell stuff? Or do you live in an area where you have enough traffic for a yard sale?

Oh, another one is to do focus groups. Not sure exactly how you find one in your area. But for an hour or so participation, you will get like $50-$100 cash to provide input on new products. i think they sometimes advertise on craigslist for those. And also check craigslist for anyone looking for anything in particular that you might have available to sell.

And, if you have problem teenagers, why don't they get jobs? Newspaper routes, helping out at a grocery store, anything to keep their hands busy and out of your (and your mother's) hair.

Okay, that's all i have for now. Good luck!

 

[chicken_china_mom]

Quote:
Let me fix what I said before...When I said sell the teenagers, I meant chickens, not kids! Oops on me! My kids are still too young to go get jobs.

 

[wegotchickens]

If you can stand needles, and have an office somewhere in the area, selling plasma is a great way to make extra $. You can't do it real often, but it would help get you through to the 19th if you do it once. And you may even be able to do it twice.

The trouble with E-bay is the hidden expenses like packing material and gas to get to the PO.

Crafts take supplies. If you don't already have them then you can't make things.

But you can sell old books, or pawn old jewelry.
If the jewelry is sentimental, then you can take out a loan on it and then pay back the $ to get your jewelry back.
Books won't bring as much, since they'd rather you traded them...

And talk to the folks at the church that does the Angel Food ministries. They may be able to give you some temporary help in other ways than lower food costs.

And don't sell the kids. You never get back what you've invested in them (j/k).

 

[HobokenChickenEmergency]

Quote:
I'm usually really good at budgeting, and knowing exactly how much money I have to work with each month, but I had the unexpected expense of not one, but two tires blowing, plus the cost of the towing on the second blowout, and that is what killed me. Normally I am a cheapskate (or so my family tells me), and I always have at least a little extra money to work with each month. I had already bought groceries right before the first tire blew, and then I got hit with that. I know something has to change. I think it's inevitable that I will have to give my two week notice and find something that pays better, and if possible is closer to the house! Cause I don't often get into this situation, and I don't like it. My mom is broke cause she paid all of her bills and had some other personal expenses come up. She had taken two of her cats to the vet, and it was on the way back from that vet visit that the second tire had blown. So that's why she's broke. She isn't usually broke either. She's nearly as much of a penny pincher as I am. Almost, lol. I told her that next month, when I have the money I'm looking into the Angel Food Ministries cause it will be a more affordable way to feed our family. But that's for next month. I'm going to go post some of my birds on craigslist, and maybe here too. See if I can get some money that way. And I'm going to see if I have anyone interested in the car.

chicken_china_mom: It's hard to pinch pennies when there's nothing to pinch. Believe me, I know. It's easy to say, "Budget your money", but when the money you're budgeting doesn't cover everything, a budget really doesn't help. I know exactly how you feel!

Definately look into assistance. It sucks to need it, but that's what it's there for.

Check out the "wanted" section of craigslist. Maybe you can sell something you didn't even think of yet.

As an aside:
The economy has tanked. I think it's way out of line to say that someone's situation isn't "normal" just because you haven't been in it yourself, RH. Lots of people are hurting right now.

 

[Turtle]

Quote:
Those are about the best ideas that I could come up with too. Also list anything else you have with value on CR and hope for the best. I would also ask the neighbors if there is any work they need done for some gas money.

 

[HobokenChickenEmergency]

BTW, one thing I learned is that checking accounts are for rich people. Even the free ones.

We have a checking account now, but only for cashing dh's paycheck, my child support checks, etc. If there's money in it, it's because we're saving it for something. We use only cash now. We're just as debt-ridden as always, but at least we don't have to hand any of our money over for built up overdraft fees anymore, or find it our direct deposits got sucked up by the bank for charges we didn't know about.

I pay our utility bills with cash at the grocery store, pay for our groceries in cash, and pay our house payment by Moneygram (cash) at Walmart. If there's not enough cash, I juggle things around.

I shop at Aldi and spend around $70 a week on groceries for 5-6 people. If I can't do $70 I cut things out, like junk food.


It's not easy or fun, but just keep telling yourself, "This too shall pass."

 

[ams3651]

at one point in my life I left work 2 nights a weekand crossed the street to work a couple hours at a convenience store for extra money. My son stops by peoples houses if they have metal or appliances laying outside and sells it for scrap but you need a truck. Do you have an office of the Salvation Army or Goodwill near by, they will give you gas money or pay a bill for you. Even a social service office at a local hospital should have names of individuals or agencies who can help.

 

[chicken_china_mom]

Quote:
The problem is that my work eliminated paper checks completely, and in order to get paid, you HAVE to have a bank account to have the check deposited into. I went for years without a bank account and I did everything in cash.