In these “trying” times, and by that I mean “trying not to use my credit card”, having a little extra cash in your pocket could really come in handy. Paying with cash gives me a rush and makes me appreciate what I’m getting much more. So this week we’re talking about what we can do to put a little extra of the green stuff in our pocket.

We all have natural talents. Mine lean towards sewing and baking, as opposed to cooking and gardening (which is why I write the Hate to Cook recipes) . I discovered over the holidays that my Mom can cut hair, and I promptly plopped both of my boys in front of her with wet heads and the scissors. Our Co-founder, Julie, has realized that she has an affinity for raising (and chasing) chickens. Here are some of our ideas for cottage industry that you can get started with little or no capital and no formal training.

1. Dog Walking – Do you know a few busy families that could use a hand with their dog walking? Make a phone call or put a note in their mailbox. Charge a reasonable rate and you’d be surprised how many people will pay for peace of mind. If you have your own dog, this is a no-brainer since you have to walk your own dog anyway.

2. Baking for Parties and Holidays – Our friend Signa just sent out the cutest email about the Valentine’s Day Cookies she’s making. You can also bake or cook for parties. Make a flyer or send an email to your friends and see who’s interested.

3. Babysitting – Parents of young children would LOVE to have an experienced parent care for their children, even if it’s only for a night on the town. Send an email to your friends and see if anyone knows someone in need.

4. Gardening – If you have a green thumb, get your seeds planted and your flyer made so that you can help people plant their gardens this spring. I’d like to get a cutting garden and a tomato garden but I can barely care for my houseplants. I’m sure you’ll find lots of others like me who’d like help.

5. Sewing – If you can hem up jeans or whip up kitchen valances, you should offer your services to your neighbors and friends. If I wasn’t blogging, I would most likely be using my sewing skills to put cash in my pocket.

They key to making money on this type of opportunity is to keep your prices reasonable and rely on word of mouth, personal notes or local email for your marketing. Give it a try, and we hope your pockets overflow with cash.

Julie Arnheim and Darcy Ratner

Founders, Rubbingnickels.com

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