Ideas on earning $600-700 ASAP (long story)

[mlc82]

(I know new "help me make money quickly!" forum topics pop up all of the time, I don't mean this one so generally though )

To make it short, I'm kind of in a jam with rent and bills, and need to make $600 minimum, preferably $700 (would prefer not to temporarily live solely on oats, tuna, and water if possible) by the beginning of June.

I'm out of work until the middle of next week, I'm going back to personal training at a gym I worked for previously but can't get on the roster til then, and if all goes well I should be able to make the money doing that with time to spare, but since I get paid by appointment only I'm not hedging all of my bets on it. 1 week doesn't really leave any time for "temp jobs" or anything of that sort either, so that isn't looking like an option.

I'd be back earlier (probably now) if I weren't stuck at home with an annoying neck injury that's finally starting to improve, but unfortunately labor-intensive random gigs like moving probably aren't the smartest thing to do and risk screwing my neck right back up (I haven't been able to lift weights for nearly 2 weeks, just light cardio, and am about to go insane!).

I don't really have a lot of stuff to sell, just sold a big bunch of things on Ebay and did alright, but the $600 minimum is my goal AFTER those sales. I'm going to dig around some more for random junk that might fetch $1 or more, but again don't see much panning out there.

I've been personal training on my own and doing alright for the last several months, but am happy to go back to the gym because of the wildly fluctuating nature of freelancing- having just a few steady clients of mine randomly flake out and disappear has taken a HUGE chunk out of my finances- I just don't enjoy dealing with this anymore.

I also currently have no major techinal/computer skills beyond the basics- I'm working right now on learning to build a web page, but as it is, those nice looking craigslist gigs of "Build my webpage, will pay $500!" just aren't a route to go either.

I'm about to start getting rid of a few things I'd really rather not sell, but don't really need either -I have an extra, older computer that might fetch $100. It makes a nice back up if ever needed so I like hanging on to it, but that's probably going to be the next thing going to the craigslist/ebay route.

Basically I just need some ideas for a short term "Oh ****!" moment solution of coming up with $600- it can be a one shot deal, as I have no intention of landing myself in this situation again! As always any help would be appreciated!

[Roman Budzowski]

If that's short term then there's no better solution than getting a job (or borrowing money from family or friends).

cheers
Roman

[ericabiz]

Why not advertise your personal trainer capabilities on craigslist and give a discount for those who start right away?

-Erica

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

My first choice would be to borrow the money. But only if you can guarantee you will be making enough to pay it back before losing in interest on the deal. Even better if you have family or friends willing to front you the cash.

Don't know your thoughts on this, but you can make money "donating" plasma. I did it when I was a broke college student so I could eat and put gas in my car. That might give you a couple hundred by June 1.

You did say labor intensive was out, but what about yards? If you have or can borrow a lawn mower, it's really low-cost decent return. My friend made $50 a pop. In a couple of weeks you could easily pull $600.

Well, I think I'm out of ideas. I usually borrow from my parents if it's necessary, but I can see why that might not be a good option, especially since I believe you said they want you to get a "real job."

Good luck.

[mlc82]

Thanks for all of the ideas!

I'm trying to avoid borrowing any money, probably mainly a pride thing cause I feel like an idiot for not giving myself enough emergency savings to cover this, and also because I really, really don't like to owe anything if I can keep from it- this is my last resort from either friends or parents though, so I at least know I'm not totally screwed if all else fails.

Once I'm back to training at the gym I should be able to have steady clients pretty easily for 8-12 hrs a day if I want (which I do right now!). It's just a bummer that this won't be happening any sooner than probably middle of next week. It should still allow me to get close to what I need, but like I said, I don't want to hedge my bets on it.

The Craigslist training idea is a really good one, but I really just don't want to do this on my own at all anymore, I'm so sick of being constantly on edge and irritated due to the fluctuating income that I'm perfectly happy now to train at a gym and work on side projects of my own (not related to that) to eventually generate income from. Having a place to go to and just stay at while training sounds like heaven now as well, as it will allow me to avoid many brutal rapings at the gas station (gas prices haven't helped since I go to people's houses/offices, and have had to raise my own price which also hasn't helped) that have been a necessary evil lately- It's a wonder I'm not walking permanently bow-legged, along with anyone else who has to do a lot of driving in their work.

If I don't see any financial gain in the next couple of days I'll do that as well though.

The lawn mowing idea is a good one! My friend and I did that when we were kids and must have had $20 bills just falling out of our pockets from it. I'm kind of wary of anything that puts any pressure on my neck/shoulder, but will check into that with the Chiropractor (who's also one of my close friends) who brought the feeling in my neck from "misery and unable to move it or drive anywhere" to just "annoying" over the course of a week


I'm about to load more stuff on ebay, it's amazing what all suddenly seems useless when you really need money! Thanks again for the ideas and keep them coming.

[AttractIt]

Are you interesting in IM?

I can give you lots of information and books about it,
Just tell me,

Good Luck

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by AttractIt

Are you interesting in IM?

I can give you lots of information and books about it,
Just tell me,

Good Luck

Sure, I've looked into it somewhat, and I'd like to check out whatever you can send my way. Thanks!

[mlc82]

As a quick update, I sold another batch of stuff on ebay and after I transfer the paypal payments to my bank account, I think I'll be at right around $250 of the necessary $600 (still preferably $700)... I don't think it's too bad of a start I'm thinking whatever I figure out to do between now and re-starting at the gym (should be on by this next thurday at the latest, likely wednesday) I should nail the $600 for sure, possibly the 7.

My neck is improving as well, although it felt awful this morning because I slept on it strangely

Thanks again for all of the advice!

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

That's great. I think your attitude is a major plus too. Believing you can do it will certainly help you get there.

Hope your neck is feeling 100% soon!

[Ali from The Office Diet]

I think if you're determined, you'll get there!

Casual, cash-in hand work (like lawns) sounds the best option to me. I did a lot of babysitting as a teen, which was nice for instant pocket-money, then some short-term data entry jobs as a student. Maybe send an email round friends/contacts in your area, saying you're available for work over the next few days if anyone needs a quick job doing?

Good luck!

Ali