You’re so desperate for money that you’re reading this on somebody else’s computer

You don’t have your own computer. You don’t have enough money to get yourself your own computer. Yet. You want to make money; you need a job; you’re searching for ideas on the Internet on a friend’s computer or at an Internet Cafe – or perhaps you don’t even have the money to spend even an hour online at an Internet Cafe, and some kind soul or friend is showing you this. Or you’re involved with a charity that is helping others become self-employed, and you’re looking for ideas.

Ok, so this blog post is not really, then, for those who already have their own computers, and access to the Internet.

It’s for people who are pretty desperate:

perhaps you don’t have a car?

perhaps you are sharing a house or flat with somebody because you can’t afford your own place?

you might be 16, you might be 30, you might be 50, whatever, but all you know is you need money, and things just aren’t coming right – you’ve applied for jobs all over the place, but it’s tough when you don’t have the right clothes, the more suitable jobs you can’t even get to an interview because it’s too far to walk there, you’re recently divorced and haven’t worked for a boss in years, your shoes are wearing through from all the walking you’re doing, you’re risking getting ill in poor weather while looking for work, and then who on earth is going to pay for medicine?

You’re miserable, and depressed.

Ok, I know it’s tough. Hang in there. Please. Do you have R10 to buy a packet of flower or herb seeds? Go get a packet of seeds now. If you don’t have the R10, borrow it from somebody. Tired of asking people to give you money that you know you’re going to struggle to pay back? Feel awful doing it? Don’t you want to stop feeling like that? Just one more time, okay? Get R10 and buy some seeds.

Ok, this is NOT a get rich quick scheme, and you’re going to have to hang in there a while longer, but for how long has no real direction been forthcoming? – you should have done this ages ago, so stop putting it off (working for yourself), and just do it – work from home.

No garden to plant the seeds in? Plant them indoors. Make a plan. Get an old ice-cream container, or an empty two litre plastic cooldrink bottle – cut it lenghtways, throw in some soil, any soil from somebody you know’s garden, or from the side of the road, you just need a spade or two full – use your hands if you have no spade. Make a plan. You can work if you want to.

Wait. Wait for your plants to grow a bit.

Gently transfer your plants into seperate small containers – made from whatever you can find that is fairly suitable. Poke some holes in the bottom, put a few tiny teeny stones in the bottom, then transfer your little plants with as much as their original soil still around them as you can manage. Water them. They may look like they are going to die off a bit, just keep looking after them. Give them a week or so, they should be looking fine by then, then go sell them. You don’t have to have green fingers or have to have a lot of knowledge about plants. Just make do. Make a plan. You’re desperate, right?

Sell your plants where?

Walk to a fleamarket if you have to, and if you have the money to pay for a fleamarket stand – the “stand” can be just you sitting on the grass, and your little plants displayed in front of you.

Sell your plants door to door if you must – and you must, if there is no alternative. You can if you want to.

Ask a shop owner if he or she doesn’t mind you standing outside the entrance to the shop so that you can sell your plants that way.

Stand in front of where you live to sell them, too, if that’s all that seems most possible.

Ok, what are you going to do with the profit you make? Yes, the bills are piling up, but you managed to somehow survive before you sold your little plants. Take your profit and get more seeds. More than the last time.

You’re growing, just like those little plants growing from seeds!

When there is enough money for buying more seeds AND spending some time at an Internet cafe, do it.

Sign up for a free email address like gmail. Get a free blog like Blogger or WordPress.

Write write write and add your writings to your blog.

Browse the Internet and learn learn learn.

I’m 41 (tomorrow actually). 4 years ago I did not know how to send an email, copy and paste, or know the difference between a folder and a file.

I can now design basic websites, use photoshop, and a whole bunch of other things. Tony did teach me an incredible amount, yes, but I’ve also been able to learn PLENTY on the Internet, for free! (other than time spent online.)

My boyfriend Tony applied for over 120 jobs in 12 months with no luck. I’m divorced. Didn’t work for ten years while married. Moved to my parents after I left my now ex husband. My wonderful Tony moved in too, about 4 months later. Desperate for money, we sold plants in the street in front of my parents’ house.

We didn’t make much at all – I think the best month was R1100. But we worked hard at it. We don’t sell plants anymore. We now design websites, do a bit of photography, and lots of writing. And, although still living at my parents for now, we’re taking care of ourselves and have paid my parents back every last cent they helped us out with.

Ok, all honesty here, to help you see that Tony and I are genuine people. There was a divorce settlement for me that helped a bit. Most of it went on paying my parents back, the cost of the divorce, and setting some aside for my boys’ future (and still need to add more to that!)

But since May 2009, our business has been enough to get us through each month. All on our own, we can be self-sufficient. There are some months that we panic about where the next bit of work will come from, but God must be looking out for us, as it always comes. We try hard, work hard, are friendly to our clients, market ourselves like mad whenever we get the chance, and we survive. We’ve even had two or three really good months (not all following each other though.)

Had there been no divorce settlement to help get a little ahead, it would have taken about a year longer, but it would have happened. We never gave up.

Browse through our sites and blogs. See that we’re trying to help you. Information that you can use is all over the Internet too. For free.

Read. Learn. Do. Earn.

You can if you want to.

Also see: To make money blogging what should you blog about?

© copyright Teresa Schultz 2010

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Many people are desperate to earn an extra income, either online as a freelancer, or offline, working from home.
Earning an extra income is certainly possible, as long as you are prepared to put in the work. It’s no use reading about great ideas, then just sitting around thinking about them! Where would the extra income come from, if you don’t do anything?
Once you realise you are determined enough to make some extra money, it will be that much easier to get started.  Don’t wait until you’re really desperate and can’t even think properly.
If it’s too late and you are already desperate,… From: Desperate to Earn an Extra Income: How to Earn an Extra Income