Ways to make a quick buck.

See also: Ways to Make a Quick Buck by Web Publishing
AND: Our sister site, freemoneymakingadvice.com

Getting rich quick is something we would all like to do. It's why we play the lottery. It's why we love game shows and reality TV programs that give everyday people the chance to dig themselves out of obscurity – and possibly out of debt.

The truth is... Very few people actually get rich quick – and most people who do get rich quick don't win any contests... Most of them work very hard and can tolerate a great deal of risk. They jump head first into business opportunities that have all sorts of “stay away” warning signs – then they risk it all again.

The real key to getting a little bit ahead in life (paying your bills more easily, etc) is to take advantage of all the small opportunities you find. This article, and those in the series to follow will detail specific opportunities as well as the general philosophy of this approach.

Putting yourself in the right frame of mind.
You are tired. You have a full-time job, you have kids to entertain/watch/chase/etc, you want to spend time with your spouse, you aren't appreciated at work unless you put in extra hours, the house needs work, and by the time the kids are in bed you just want to sit in front of the TV and escape for a few hours. This down-time is important for your psychological well-being. So where are you going to find the time to start that business you always wanted to start? Your summer vacation? Weekends? You're looking for a large chunk of time to get your business underway... and that's the problem.

The scenario outlined above may not exactly match your lfe situation... But the central point – that you feel overwhelmed with “stuff” already and can't imagine how you could possibly generate some sort of secondary income. The infamous “time is money” concept can be considered from the other perspective... Where money is time. What you actually seek is more time... to make more money, to make more time.. with the underlying goal of having more time for yourself and your family. Quite the paradox.

You need to stop thinking about starting a business. Businesses are complex and difficult to manage. They take 110% of your time and they don't make money (generally speaking) for years after they are founded.

First things first. A penny saved is a penny earned. Take some time to review your finances and make sure you understand where every bit of money comes from and where it goes. Think you know already? Check again... This is a healthy exercise. Now – within reason, cut out the unnecessary spending. I won't get into the philosophy of a penny saved is a penny earned.... It's pretty straightforward.

Now.. Go on the great passive opportunity hunt. You are going to be more like a spider than a lion. From this point forward, a chance to make a quick $10 is something you will take advantage of. Once you master the art of not missing an opportunity, you'll find that $20 here, $10 there, and another $15 over there really starts to add up.

Obviously, $10 here and there isn't going to change your world. This is the first step in changing your frame of mind. Your risk tolerance will slowly but surely grow and your confidence about making extra money will increase. These two elements are major motivators. You will begin to become more active about making extra money. These are the most important steps in overcoming the money vs time paradox.