Your Strengths, Your Money

Need a few extra bucks to help pay down debt or build up
your emergency account? There are some simple ways to do it
without working another job or being away from the children
even more. Using your *strengths*, brainstorm ways to zero
in on new sources of income.



What ARE Your *Strengths*?

-- What are you really good at?
-- What do your friends/coworkers compliment you about, over
and over?
-- Are you a perfectionist in certain things?
-- What things do your friends/family tease you about, or
find irritating, because you do these things so well?



Do you Enjoy Working with Numbers?

If you're great at balancing your checkbook, you could pick
up a few extra dollars each month balancing for friends who
hate doing it themselves. A gentleman I know used to order
pizza for the bank teller in exchange for keeping his
checkbook balanced for him. He hated doing it. The teller
found it very easy. Perfect fit!


Are you Artistic?

Perhaps you're a penny-saver. You've created a beautiful
decorative container to hold your pennies. Would they make
nice gifts for others? Make some extras and see how they
sell at Christmas bazaars. Give away as gifts to nieces,
nephews, grandchildren. Others may see them and want one.
Some may take them to school and show them around.

If you make it fun for kids to use them, parents will
greatly appreciate it. In the meantime, children are
learning a great savings habit.


Are you a Perfectionist?

Can't stand a dirty car? Is your car always spotless,
inside and out? Next time someone compliments you on it
(or wishes their car looked great like yours), let them
know you'll keep theirs up to snuff for a few bucks every
week or two. Their friends and neighbors will notice, and
before long you'll have created a steady stream of income.
Around here, the salt and chemicals need to be removed on
a regular basis during snow season.


Do you Enjoy the Great Outdoors? Use the Seasons!

Fall

How about raking leaves? Bag up the leaves and take
them with you for homeowners who don't enjoy this type work,
or who can't do it themselves. Fall is also a good time to
give lawns a final mowing. Mow the leaves up with the final
grass cutting for the year. The leaves are actually great
nourishment.

Winter

Shovel sidewalks. Shovel paths so others can get
in their cars (especially the elderly). Or run errands for
them while you're already out doing your errands. Wash the
slush and chemicals off neighbors' cars after a major
snowstorm.

Spring

Weed, till soil, remove downed branches after a storm.

Summer

Your neighbors probably have swimming pools. Are you
good at cleaning them? How about making sure the chemicals
are just right?

Remove stray leaves that end up in the pool. (For safety
reasons, please don't take your children with you to these
pools.

Water gardens in the evenings or early morning for those who
don't enjoy it or can't do it. Weed their flower or veggie
gardens. See what you can do for the neighbors in your area
while they enjoy their vacations.

Change of Seasons

Remove leaves from gutters for others. Again, there will
likely be lots of downed branches to gather and remove.

Now, obviously these are very basic ideas. There are many
more ideas you can come up with. Use your strengths as your
starting point and see what you can dream up.