Off the Computer :
Babysitting :
A classic job done by millions of teenagers every year. Advantages : If you’re babysitting in the evenings, all you have to do is play with the kids an hour or two, make them dinner (or heat it up), and then put ‘em to bed. Then just watch TV for the next couple of hours. Additionally, no need for your own materials. Disadvantages : Usually takes up a whole Friday or Saturday night. When the kids don’t want to brush their teeth (among other things), it sometimes gets pretty annoying. Pay : Depends on the number of children and your age/experience (see "talking about your pay").
Pet Care :
A fairly easy job : taking the animal on a short walk (if needed), feeding it and cleaning up it’s mess. Advantages : Doesn’t take very long. No need for your own materials. Disadvantages : no biggies here. Pay : Depends on the animal and what tasks are needed for it (see "talking about your pay").
Yard Work :
This job can include weeding, mowing or easy stuff like watering plants and so on. Advantages : A moderately easy job but you must be very carefull at all times. You might be able to ride a mowing cart/tractor. Disadvantages : Messy and you might even have to bring your own tools. Pay : Varies upon the difficulty of the task (see "talking about your pay").
There are lots of other jobs that you can do " off the computer ". A few examples that are either too vague or simple to describe thouroughly : washing cars, cleaning out basements/attics, washing windows, picking up mail and newspapers for neighbors, even things like tutoring kids.
Wanna make lots of money in one weekend ?
One special job that works for me every year : making pancakes. Sound dumb to you ? Wait...read on :
Every April, there’s a huge garage sale event where you pay to rent a table (about 75cm wide, 2m long). I have a special pancake maker where all you have to do is have premixed dow poured onto the machine, and it will make a pancake in about one minute. You can also use a beacon grill and a Coleman stove (as " pancake makers " might be hard to find). I sell the pancakes at a reasonable price.
Does this idea seem good to you? If so, here are some insider tips that have helped me get the most out of my work:
- a month or two before the event (whether it's a garage sale or not), ask the organisers if they could include a small ad for your pancake stand (remember, advertising always helps).
- To lower material costs, call people who have had B-day parties and ask them if they have any extra plastic/paper plates and forks that they could give away.
- You might want to add supplementary items that you sell, such as a couple dabs of powdered sugar, lemon juice, or maple syrup at a small fee.
- Another idea to make even more money is to have (this is just an idea that worked for me, something similar might do just the same though) a huge jar full of cheap (but tasty looking) candy. Have kids guess the amount of candy inside it and their guesses put inside a ballot box. The closest guessed amount is the winner; he/she gets to take home the jar full of candy.
- These are just ideas you can use. There is an infinite number of others that you can think of. Be simple, but use your imagination. Good Luck.
Counting up the cash:
Once you've sold your pancakes and you're eager to add up the cash, don't forget to deduct the money you spent on the premixed dow, the rental space and others things like plastic plates, etc...
- Got a question, comment or concern about this great idea? Don't hesitate to e-mail me.
