Five Easy Ways to Make Extra Cash
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Small Change is Still Money in Your Pocket
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Recycle
Not only is recycling an excellent way to do your part in keeping our world clean but it holds benefits for you as well. If you recycle aluminum cans, cardboard, paper, copper scrap, etc. you can make a small profit. If you don’t mind taking them to your local recycling center yourself, you could make $10 or more cash. I know it’s not much money, but every little bit helps. For example, I took in 2 garbage bags of aluminum cans (uncrushed) and got back around $6. Note that prices do fluctuate and with a lot more people trying to find ways to earn an extra buck, the prices might be lower if they already have a lot of that particular item. Also, there are some people out there who steal copper and steel from sites and homes so they will ask you for identification if you are recycling copper, steel or any type of scrap metal.
Coinstar
You can find this service at most grocery stores. If you’re like me, you keep every penny but are uncomfortable in using them in excess when buying something (i.e., counting out 100 pennies may get you some unneeded hatred from the line forming behind you). I like to keep my change in a central location (I use a small basket). I find change when cleaning out my purse, doing laundry and cleaning the house. When my basket is full, I take it in to my local grocery store and use the Coinstar machine. You just drop in your coins, the machine calculates how much is there (they do take a slight percentage) and it prints out a cash voucher that you can turn around and cash in at the help desk. Last time I took my basket in, I made $10 from all my pennies, nickels and dimes (I use most of my quarters).
Secondhand Boutiques
There are some secondhand stores (not thrift stores) that will give you a cash option for your items or a store credit (usually the store credit worth more). The city I live near has a book store, clothing store and cd store like this. The only catch is that they give a very small percentage for your items and are usually picky, but this helps keep the concept and style of the store intact so I understand. The items that they don’t take I give to the local thrift store and get a tax receipt.
Antique Dealers and Auction Houses
If you have some furniture that has been passed down or you found for a good deal but now have no place for it and want cash for it, try bringing a picture of the item to your local antique shops and ask them if they’re interested. Again, you will probably only get a fraction of what the item is worth, but you can get the cash for it now instead of waiting for it to sell on consignment. Also, if you have a lot of items or an estate, try contacting an auction house. They will sell your items for a cut and give the rest of the money to you. Many auction houses will even pick up the items for you.
Pawnshops
Pawnshops are very popular these days because of the need for extra cash. You can take an item in and the clerk will give you a price for the item they feel is fair (keep in mind, the price will be lower than the actual worth because they need to make a profit too). I have never utilized a pawnshop but I would suggest knowing the worth of the item will help so that you won’t get ripped off.
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Thanks AEvans! I am planning on having a couple of thise this summer - it's a great way to declutter. I usually have one when I move out of an apartment too so I'm not lugging more stuff with me that I don't need.
Peppermint - Great ideas, however I would roll my own coins since coinstar takes a percentage of your money. That will put more cash in your hands.
I always keep an old-fashioned piggy bank purchased at the 99 cent store - the kind you can't open! When it is full (about once a year) I take it to my bank (Wells Fargo) and they dump all my coins in their coin sorter and give me back every penny of my $250 or so! This is a nice litte annual bonus!
Triplet Mom & Just me Suzanne - those are both great ideas! Thanks for your comments.
Well, Peppermint Thrift, your name says it all: FRESH ideas for SAVING MONEY! And you've given some great suggestions here.
I am fortunate to have a recycling van permanently parked in my local grocery store parking lot -- within 1/2 mile from my house. I make sure we save up all of our empties. In our house, it's mostly plastic bottles, but aluminum cans are actually worth more. Typically I yield about $4-5 per trip. But I see industrious people with giant bags (often riding bikes) who make quite a pretty penny this way -- $30, $50 and up.
Also a big fan of saving coins. Thanks for the reminder about either rolling them yourself or going to Coinstar.
Well, Peppermint Thrift, your name says it all: FRESH ideas for SAVING MONEY! And you've given some great suggestions here.
I am fortunate to have a recycling van permanently parked in my local grocery store parking lot -- within 1/2 mile from my house. I make sure we save up all of our empties. In our house, it's mostly plastic bottles, but aluminum cans are actually worth more. Typically I yield about $4-5 per trip. But I see industrious people with giant bags (often riding bikes) who make quite a pretty penny this way -- $30, $50 and up.
Also a big fan of saving coins. Thanks for the reminder about either rolling them yourself or going to Coinstar.
Thanks Mighty Mom! It just feels good to recycle and save and then get a slight reward for it.
fiveeasywaystomakeextracash
Thank you very much for this hub! It's really very useful.. I appreciate it very much and will follow your advice!
You're welcome Sophieqd - every little bit of savings helps!
Great ideas! I love saving coins. We have a big jug that we all put change in. Then the kids help me count it up and roll it. (This was great practice when they were learning how to count money.) It's our FUN money for vacations or outings.
thanks badcompany99!
thanks mamacoots - that is a great idea too! i've been meaning to set aside some fun money myself!
Helps the environment also. Good job
Thanks Ethel - if everyone does a little, it can make a big difference!
nice hub, I think I should start recycling now. I've got a bunch or plastic and bottles lying around that I should turn into cash.
Peppermint Thrift, you are just full of great money saving and money making idea, great job.
Thanks Fastfreta - I don't have much so you have to get creative sometimes!
Great hub.. someone voted me down and said it was better collect rocks than money, because SHE collected rocks when she was a kid. Of course I commended her, they can be educational, but economical? When I went to her hub, they are still waiting for the American dream of owning a home, with, I think 3-4 kids. I am closing this week on my own American dream (gloat gloat lol) I have a few rocks I collected from the Atlantic beach where I live. I also wanted to do a hub on them, but I'm putting most of my "collecting" in money as, at some point it could buy me food when I won't get much for a rock LOL :) Maybe I should do my hub on how my DVD collection was FREE because I get them for a $1. at the pawn shop, but use my cell to look them up and sell the expensive ones on Amazon! So I got 6 movies for free this weekend, as the 2 most expensive ones already sold! Plus paid for the gas, and a bit extra for the piggy bank! :) Great hub vote UP!
Sorry to post twice, but all of the things here are actually great idea's on how to stretch a buck! I mean, you all have great idea's (although I don't use that machine cos it takes a cut, but handy if you have a lot and not a lot of time!) And when I was a kid, ugh wouldn't be caught dead with second hand clothes, now we have to practically fight the kids for them, they are the "in" thing to do! "Vintage" (even if it was last year) LOL Gotta love the kids! :)
i agree with you katharelia! there is so many things to stretch a buck. Even junks and some useful scrap metals. we can actually sell it or recycle it for a cause. we earn money at the same time we help maintain cleanliness.
AEvans Level 7 Commenter 3 years ago
Those certainly are 5 easy ways including a rummage sale or some call it a yard sale.:)