Startup Money

[NickGustafson]

There was no real way I could title this post without it sounding like I wanted a get rich quick scheme that will ultimately fail, etc.

I'm more looking for quick ways to make money, because I'm living in an apartment and I can barely make rent. I have a cash flow, but I still need to make an additional ~$220 a month to support rent. I don't have a job, and I have applied and called up places all around town and most of them either said they weren't hiring, or I should apply in the Spring (which is a BIT far from now).

I've considered things like donating Plasma, Bone Marrow, Sperm, etc. However, there are none of these clinics in my area.

Basically I want a way to take the stress of having to come up with rent each month so I can focus on a real business plan and such and build myself slowly up.

Suggestions that would be nice are legit websites that pay you for writing with minimal experience. Something like Demand Studios but without the intense screening?

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by NickGustafson

Suggestions that would be nice are legit websites that pay you for writing with minimal experience. Something like Demand Studios but without the intense screening?

You could make an account on Elance.com or a similar website and work as a freelancer. You do not actually get hired by any company in particular, instead you have to bid on jobs and get hired by the job creator to do the job; many of which are writing jobs that anyone could accomplish.

[elucidate]

I'm having the same issue.

You could try moving to a place with less rent, just off the top of my head. I'm considering this.

Sell whatever you don't need that's taking up space. I'm even going to contact wig makers and porcelain doll makers to see if they will buy my hair...they pay well apparently. That's just a one off though.

Do you have any skills that you could start a biz with?

[Agota]

I'd say freelance.

Do you have any skills like writing, programming, web design, etc?

You could also get a part time job, something simple like a cashier, barista or waiter. It would take like 20 hours a week, but you'd cover the rent.

You could also downsize when it comes to where you live. I'm not sure if it's a flat or a room, but maybe if it's a flat you could get a temporary roomate?

Also, elucidate is right about selling stuff, most people live with loads of stuff they don't need and they could make some nice cash if they'd sell it.

[Agota]

Oh, and I'm not sure about your lifestyle, but maybe there's a way to simply cut something out and save those few hundred bucks you need? You might drop cable TV, cancel magazine subscriptions, stop eating out, stop going to cinema, stop buying ready-made or fast food and start cooking from scratch, etc. It's really not that hard for few months and you could focus on your business.

[Shift]

I'm finding that the ticket to making extra money is procedure. Find something that you can make money with (like writing), turn it into a process, rinse, repeat.

For example, say you were writing articles for Fiverr ($5 per...). The best thing to do would be to create an outline for pretty much any SEO article and work from there. It could be something like...

Intro

Point 1 - three sub-points

Point 2 - three sub-points

Point 3 - three sub-points

Conclusion

This way, you aren't reinventing the wheel each time you write. Saves a lot of time and truthfully, the Fiverr crowd isn't expecting filet mignon.

Another thing about following procedure is that it eliminates distractions. There are unlimited ways to make money in this world and the catch is finding one that actually works for you. Once you have it, focus on earning and expanding what you have. What many people do is dabble. They'll find that something that earns money, see something new, and jump ship. Three years later, they're no better off.

Procedure, procedure, procedure.

[NickGustafson]

Wow, first off thank you everyone for being so kind of helpful! I was a little worried I was just gonna be told off haha.

@Curtis2011 Thank you very much for the recommendation, I've signed up and I'll post my progress with it!

@Elucidate I actually did a lot of research when I chose a place, and I'm also living with 3 roommates, so rents about as low as I can get it. Plus I'm on a lease, so if I did move out, I would need to break lease and get charged ~$300. Its funny you say about donating your hair, cause I actually cut my own hair recently to avoid the $20 for a hair cut!

I've been thinking over it for a while, but I'm having trouble finding the right mindset so I can think of a business idea. Thank you!

@Agota I've always been a fan of writing, so I think that's what I'll do. Curtis recomended Elance, any other suggestions for writing gigs? I've been applying a lot for a part time job so I can shift from time for money into something better, but I'm having so much trouble.

Also, I actually don't have much to my name as of now. In fact I have my laptop, my clothes, 4 books, and my phone (which is paid for by my grandma, luckily). My mattress/desk/etc is all borrowed.

I don't eat out except when I get gift cards as gifts from relatives, which is rare. I've only gone to the cinema once in the past month with my girlfriend because movies were $1 a ticket. And I always cook from scratch/ I cook a LOT of top ramen/potatoes/rice. Thank you very much for the advice!

@Shift Thank you very much, that is great advice! I'll also go and check out Fiverr and see what I can do there!

Thank you everyone for being so helpful!

[Agota]

Oh, okay, that means that downsizing is not an option

In my experience with freelance writing, these are the two best places:

1. ProBlogger Job Board - Blog owners looking for writers. The best thing about it is that people there are serious and pay decent money for high quality writing.

2. People Per Hour - My favorite freelancing website. The average pay is best among freelancers websites I've checked. I also like the interface of the website.

Try these, just keep in mind that you have to write great bids to get a job

[InterfaceLeader]

You could also try your hand at the marketplace articles at Helium.com

[NickGustafson]

@Agota Yeah unfortunately I've downsized already or else this would be much easier!

Thank you very much for all the help, its nice to see people who're doing well lend a hand! I've seen the Problogger one but it doesn't seem to get a lot of activity, I'll check out the other link, thank you!

@Interface Leader Thank you, i'll be sure to check them out!