I actually bought a book brand-new, from a shop, and didn't go out intending to buy it. There are a few mitigating circumstances, m'lud. Firstly, I only went into W H Smiths because I had a voucher to buy this month's 'Delicious' magazine for £1.00 (saving £2.30 off the cover price), they didn't have it! Then, I honestly thought this book was only £2.99 if purchased with today's edition of The Times (it wasn't, as I discovered at the checkout). Finally, for £3.99 I thought it was well worth getting some ideas from.
It's an amusing little tome with some usual and not so usual ideas for making a bit of extra money. The usual suspects are car boot sales, selling on ebay. on-line surveys, mystery shopper (I've always fancied having a go at that myself), selling home-made craft items (I do try with that, with various levels of success), making jams and chutneys to sell etc etc. The not so usual ideas are being a porn star (I think not in my case), breastfeeding consultant (I can see this might be good for some people), surrogate mother (too old now, thank goodness), fishing and hunting (eww, no thanks, hate fish of any description and also hate meat in the 'raw').
Some of the ideas that quite appealed to me were foraging, taking in ironing (I knew someone who did this once and it was quite successful), proof reading (I used to be a 'scrutineer' on the local Bristol newspaper many moons ago), and treasure hunting (tramping round a muddy field with a metal detector has always held an odd fascination for me, although I've never done it.)
All in all, not a bad investment for £3.99, although I bet I could have found it in the local library if I'd not been so impulsive.
Edited to add: There is a website to go with the book.
Looks good!!
Posted by: Frugal Trenches | 01/30/2009 at 03:27 PM
I was a mystery shopper in my local bank, it was good fun!
Posted by: French Knots | 01/30/2009 at 05:30 PM
how about 'write a book about how to make extra cash in a recession'?
Posted by: Moyra | 01/30/2009 at 07:22 PM
Hmmm some interesting ideas...I've tried/still do quite a few of those money making suggestions.... as you know I don't miss a boot sale,and regularly sell on Ebay. I've been a mystery shopper, it was great fun, I went out for several very nice meals and then reported back on the service. I occasionally take part in market research groups, they usually pay around £30 for 2 hours sitting around chatting. Mind you finding something to say about Tictacs for 2 hours(honestly!) wasn't easy :)
Before my daughter started school I took in ironing, I would iron all day long but was very relieved to give it up when I returned to work!
Posted by: gill | 01/31/2009 at 01:56 AM
Looks like the ideal book for the current climate. I seem to have done a lot of the C's - Comping , Crafting and Credit Card Cashback. I plan to do more Carbooting and Ebaying but would most like to proof-read. I find mistakes in almost everything I read so I think I would be quite good at it.
Posted by: Teresa | 02/02/2009 at 12:44 PM