Easy Ways to Make A Little Extra Cash This Summer

There is nothing like a good workout to make me feel more productive, more energized and more fantastic. I’m not going to lie; I work out six days a week, and I feel awful if I miss a day – and I will do anything not to miss a day. In fact, when my husband and I, and our two favorite couples, head off on a tropical vacation this week, I’m taking my Nikes and we plan on running the beach together in the morning just to get a little bit of exercise in each day. My husband knows I’m a little bit moody without exercise each day.

I typically work out in the evenings with my husband or in the mornings with my girlfriends. It depends on the day. Since I like to start my work out on the treadmill, I usually bring my headphones and listen to my favorite morning talk show while I work out. This morning, though, I was a little bit early and I forgot my headphones. No biggie since two of my girlfriends were meeting me and I wouldn’t need them. However, I spent a good 10 minutes on the treadmill by myself, and I got to hear other people talking.

Boy – other people’s lives make me very grateful for my own (hashtag blessed). I don’t know what happened to people in this world, but some of them need some serious reality checks every so often. This morning, I listened to a couple of women who are obviously teachers on summer vacation as they discussed how the fund their summer vacations. They get paid during the summer, but it comes in the form of one big check at the end of the school year rather than throughout the summer.

The one woman was saying she just charges her summer vacations and her fun so that she can have a good time. She doesn’t feel bad about it, because she feels she deserves it. She just got a new credit card so she can do it this summer, since her other cards are maxed out (I’m positive my facial expressions mirrored my thoughts, which is why I’m certain I need botox – so people can’t see what I think of them). Her friend seemed a little leery of this, and she asked her girlfriend why she didn’t get a side job or something. My friends arrived then, and I wasn’t able to hear the rest.

However, I did get to thinking that there has to be a few ways that those who are home for the summer can make a few extra bucks, not go into debt and still have fun. I thought about different income ideas, and I really think I’m onto something here.

Babysit

Do you have a friend whose kids are in need of a babysitter all summer long? Why not ask her if you can watch them for her for a fee? It’s a good idea since you’re going to make a little money, have a little fun and your kids will get to have someone to play with all summer. It really does sound like a great idea to me.

Mow Lawns

I cannot tell you how many people are always looking for someone to mow their law for them. I know a couple who wants someone to do it once a week for them, but they don’t want to pay a lawn service 12 months out of the year for 4 months of work. Since most lawn services charge in this manner, it makes sense to us that you could make some serious money doing this yourself on a week-by-week basis.

Teach

If you are a teacher – and I assume many of you are if you’re home for the summer – why not teach kids for a few hours each day? Tutoring is a lucrative position, and it always feels good to help others when they are in need. You’re in the business of making a positive impact on the lives of others, right?

Paint

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day after getting a quote that was a bit more like college tuition than a simple paint job. We have this amazing great room and entry in the front of our house with 24-foot ceilings. We want to paint that room but holy intimidating, so we’d like to hire someone. If you can paint, you’re not messy and you want to make some money, why not?

Sell Stuff

Now that you have all this free time, why not make it your business to hit up yard sales and thrift shops and buy great things? I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard of people coming into our neighborhood and buying high-end designer handbags, shoes, clothes and even furniture from the older couples looking to sell their large homes and downsize. It’s amazing. You can buy it for nothing, and then you can turn around and sell it online for a lot more than what you paid.

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