Top 10 Ways to Make Extra Money

By Adam Huckeby, Creative Director

I read an article today that suggested “50 businesses to start at home.”  I have a great job and I love what I do and the company where I work (they also pay me well – which doesn’t hurt).  But, still…I was interested to see what the 50 home businesses were.  I think anyone with an entrepreneurial mind perks up when he/she sees an opportunity to scratch that itch.  And if you’re an entrepreneur, you know the itch well.  It’s this drive inside you to do more, be more, become more, enjoy life, and perhaps most of all…control your time and enjoy your work.

In a time of economic uncertainty, with doom and gloom shouted from the rooftops of our national media outlets, people are starting to look at their income and monthly budgets.  Even if we’re doing ok and our income is supporting us, we’re still holding back.  We’re still considering cuts.  We’re still considering what we can do to make our financial position in this economy better. 

There are rare times in history where an opportunity, an idea, or even a thought can take hold and change a society.  For Pre-Paid Legal, the time is RIGHT NOW.  People are looking.  They are actively seeking.  People want a way to strengthen their financial future.  There are a lot of people and companies out there trying to take advantage of this without offering a real opportunity.  Search Google for “income opportunity.”  As of this writing, that search yields over FIVE MILLION results.  Worse, the top two results are franchise opportunities.  Do most of the people you know have thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in a franchise? 

Most people need a modest entry to an opportunity.  That’s why sites offering “50 home based businesses” and “work at home jobs” and “online income” are also among the top rated results when searching for income opportunities on the internet.  People want a good opportunity with a low cost to get started.  The problem is that while many of those so-called “opportunities” do provide a way to make some money (and many are just bad ideas), they are also incredibly limited in how much money they can offer.

I’ve compiled a top-10 list from the suggestions I just read. 

10. Selling Collectibles – what happens when you run out of collectibles, or people stop buying collectibles as budget cut items?

9.  Running Errands – in this economy people run their own errands - those who don't often have hired assistants already.

8.  Supplying Firewood – My wife won’t let me cut down our trees.

7.  Pet Breeding – Hmmm, I’ll leave that to the professionals.

6.  Offering Notary Public Services – I’ve needed a Notary several times in the last few years, I’ve never paid for one – my bank provides the service for free.

5.  Removing Snow – I live in Oklahoma, not a lot of snow.  And, frankly, I like being warm too much.

4.  Cutting Lawns – it’s DECEMBER!

3.  Selling an e-Book – There are a lot of great FREE resources that teach people everything from sewing to woodworking to electronics repair.  Let’s see…an eBook for $5 or a free website I found with a 10 second search at Google…I’ll take FREE!

2.  Auctioning Items on Ebay – this one has a lot of steam behind it.  Everyone has heard a story about their brother-in-laws barber’s sister who used to be a cardiologist, but now earns more money by selling stuff on eBay.  I’ve heard the stories, but I’ve never actually met the person myself.  I’ve even sold a lot of things on eBay myself.  I’m convinced that to make any real money, it would take a LOT of work, and time that I don't have.

1.  Writing Resumes – It’s true that there are a lot of people out of work.  For most, I can’t imagine that they’re thinking, “hmmm, now that I don’t have a job or an income, I need to find someone I can PAY to write my Resume!  I know there are free sites and resources on the internet for this, but I’d rather just pay someone to do it.”

The more I see about the economy and people trying to help by offering suggestions to make extra money or ways to cut expenses, the more I think our opportunity here at Pre-Paid Legal is really one of a kind.  Where else can you make a real difference in the life of someone right now!  Everything is here.  The system is ready to work.  All you have to do is step in and make your mark.  And there are people who will help you along the way.  Your upline organization is in the business of helping YOU!  It does take effort and work, but the potential payoff is much better than any of the other opportunities I’ve read about recently.

Even better, the service we’re selling is one that is NEEDED in these economic times.  Technically I suppose you can sell something that people don’t “need” or that they can buy at the local discount store for less money, but filling a need that can’t be filled any other way is less like selling and more like “serving.”  Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associates serve the public interest by giving people access to legal counsel at an affordable price (ESPECIALLY in this economy). 

The opportunity to serve is an opportunity that just makes sense.  All of the options listed above, and most on the list I read, require either a significant investment to keep the business running OR a great deal of physical labor – with the income potential limited by the amount of labor and time a single person can invest.  With Pre-Paid Legal, and the ability to leverage your efforts through offering the opportunity to others, your income can literally double, triple, or more over time as you work a consistent number of hours. 

The secret (and it’s not really a secret) is “persistence.”  Keep going, keep building your business.  Don’t stop.  Sometimes the advice we REALLY need stings a bit, and here it is:  The solutions to many of life’s challenges – including financial – are rarely easy tasks.  Real solutions require real commitment and work.  But, if you’re willing, and have the right opportunity, the possibilities are limitless!