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How do you make a little extra dough each year?
There are so many ways to make a little extra cash each year. I'm curious to know what you guys do! Here are some things that I do:
1. Contribute to 401k up to employer's match. Suze Orman explains this as giving yourself a raise, because you are getting free money from your employer, just by saving for retirement. I love that perspective!
2. Working the credit card points. I have seen that a lot of you do the same. 
I think I made about $500 last year from it.
3. Side jobs. Part time jobs, baby sitting, crafting, tutoring, etc. I just started tutoring through Wyzant.com. It is a great way to make an extra $30 every now and then when I'm not too busy. My husband, who is a parole officer, just found a security guard job that basically allows you to come in when needed/if available (like substitute teaching). Also another great way to make extra cash if he's not too busy.
4.Taking surveys. I just started this about a month ago, and I already have enough for a $20 restaurant gift card and one $25 Lowes card.
5. Apps and websites that pay you for doing things that you already do anyway. Someone earlier did a post about Checkout 51, which gives you rebates by taking a photo of your grocery receipt. I also recently started using Viggle, which gives you rewards for "checking in" while you watch TV. Then I've also heard of a website where you can do weight loss gambles. The website pairs you with a group of other people who are trying to lose weight, and everyone puts money into the "pot". Those that don't lose weight lose their money, and those that do lose weight earn the money that the non-losers (weight that is) lost.
Obviously these options don't suffice as a full time job, but they are cool ways to get a little extra. I use these to justify spending money on little luxuries like eating out. What has worked for you?
Re: How do you make a little extra dough each year?
Bring clothes to consignment shops seasonally
Checkout 51 (just started this one)
Make H work overtime! LOL (my company doesn't allow, but we do get bonuses sometimes)
Sell our used electronics on U-sell or Amazon
Sell things on Craisglist
I do things on our work health insurance website that we get points for and I always get free movie tickets and Itunes cards
Credit card points to pay toward my cc bill, or getting store gift cards
Clip coupons
That's about it
I just started Viggle, so I'm not too familiar with it. However, it looks like you can get gift cards to Best Buy, iTunes, and Barnes & Noble.
Completely forgot about the rewards that health insurance companies offer. We get $560 (each) towards our deductible from our health insurance company, just by going to get our blood pressure checked and completing online activities.
I really like Ebates. Its great because it gives you cash back for purchases you make online. I get a good amount back and i rarely shop online. Its really easy. I just navigate to the website through the link on ebates and i automatically get a certain percentage back on what i purchase. They'll run specials with certain stores - recently they were offering up to 15% back. Then i get a check in the mail every 3 months!
Thanks for the reminder about health insurance rewards - i have to do mine now! i think we can earn up to 125 every quarter and i missed the first one. I think all i gotta do is go in for a annual exam at the dr and have them fill out this form and then every quarter i automatically get money for being at healthy levels. i get 25 dollars every 3 months automatically for being a non-smoker.
I'm interested in everyones answers since i really need as much as i can get without having to physically go out and work a 2nd job because my husband already does that and someone has to be home.
Sell on craigslist. We currently have a ton of stuff to get rid of and am thinking of having a yard sale.
I sell Thirty One
DH is usually able to work OT once a month.
TTC since 1/13 DX:PCOS 5/13 (long, anovulatory cycles)
Clomid 50mg 9/13 = BFP! EDD 6/7/14 M/C 5w6d Found 11/4/13
1/14 PCOS / Gluten Free Diet to hopefully regulate my system.
Chemical Pregnancy 03/14
Surprise BFP 6/14, Beta #1: 126 Beta #2: 340 Stick baby, stick! EDD 2/17/15
Riley Elaine born 2/16/15
TTC 2.0 6/15
Chemical Pregnancy 9/15
Chemical Pregnancy 6/16
BFP 9/16 EDD 6/3/17
Beta #1: 145 Beta #2: 376 Beta #3: 2,225 Beta #4: 4,548
www.5yearstonever.blogspot.com
In addition to working full-time, I also have a super flexible pt job that I LOVE. I work through a company and it involves taking pictures of event boards at local hotels. Apparently it is a whole industry, although I had never heard of it until I started this job. And it is a set income that I can count on each month.
I also own a multi-family home and rent out the other side of my house.
I've also been a mystery shopper for over a decade. That job kind of comes and goes depending on my mood and patience level. But, with the exception of the months I'm fed up and stop doing it all together, I can usually bring in $100-$200/month in extra income for a couple assignments/week. I never include this income in my budget because it is too variable, plus then it makes nice bonus money.
I've been thinking about starting a line of all natural pet treats...for both dogs and cats...and selling them at shows/farmer's markets, etc. I have a friend who sells pottery at these types of events and she says they are a lot of fun. I have grandiose ideas, lol, but have not implemented much yet. Stay tuned.
-Divemastering, which pretty much just pays for my diving habit
-Occasional babysitting, just for one family at this point
-Teaching Sunday School. My church has always used a paid staff, and I've been there since college. I love it, but now it looks like they are probably switching to volunteer system in the fall (they can't make up their minds). This will actually be a big budget hit for us.
I've done e-bay in the past, but life has just been too busy. I'd love to try an etsy shop, but not really sure what I'd make. I'm generally crafty, but not a specialist at this point. I'd also try mystery shopping, I'm a customer service stickler so it might be interesting for me.
I like it. It does use workbooks, which the kids enjoy, and IMO does a very good job with age-appropriate early childhood lessons (which our last curriculum didn't).
Disclaimer: I go to a UCC Church, which is quite liberal as Christian denominations go. The linked curriculum doesn't get into social stuff either way, focusing instead on learning the Bible stories and how kids can "live God's love," by praying, volunteering, being kind, etc. It's not specific to my denomination though, and could probably be a good fit for many Christian traditions.
Ugh! So much difficulty with site today. This is in response to strickland and Xstatic3333. Oddly enough, right after I posted on here yesterday, I hopped over to the 9 to 5 board and someone was specifically asking about mystery shopping (MS).
I gave a long explanation and information over there...which I now can't seem to link or even copy/paste over here. But here are the highlights of that post:
The best place to start is www.volition.com . They are not an MS company themselves, but they have a huge list of legitimate MS companies. There is also a large forum where you can find just about anything you need to know about anything MS related. Everything there is free information.
Legitimate MS companies will never ask you to pay a fee to sign up. But, if you do a google search on mystery shopping, what you will find first is a bunch of companies who are NOT MS companies...but will charge you $20, $30, $40 to provide you with a list of MS companies. Don't waste your money, that info is all free at Volition.
With that said, MSing is a lot harder than most people think it is and the pay is not that great. Nowhere near a full-time income. And, unless you live in or are willing to go to at least a medium sized or large city, there won't be many assignments available.
With that said, I having been doing it for the better part of 10 years, so obviously I don't think its all bad!