Learning how to earn extra money

Times are tough. We all know that we're in the deepest recession in at least 30 years. Some experts even say it's the worst it's been since the Great Depression of the 1930s. So in these tough economic times, we all want to know how to earn extra money. Anything to supplement your salary, or put a little cash away for a vacation later in the season, or pay down those outrageous credit card debts.
Start by going online and searching "how to earn extra money." There's a fair number of how-to guides out there, but beware of the ones that charge a fee. Chances are they'll just be giving you the same advice you could get from any free guide out there, and your goal is to learn how to earn extra money, not how to spend money you don't have!
Some ideas I found were pretty straightforward: Have a sidewalk sale to get rid of your old CDs, or old clothes, shoes, etc. In these tough econonomic times, people are way more willing to buy secondhand instead of finding something new. By doing this you get to earn extra money while they get to save a couple of bucks. It's the free market doing what the market does best.
If you're not into garage sales or flea markets of the like, then maybe try EBay. They wrote the book on how to earn extra money, and are a global multi-billion dollar company as a result. That old coat of yours could get you a couple of bucks if you EBay it, as could that old VCR. Or maybe it's time to sell that collection of baseball cards or Beanie Babies. Whatever you've got hidden away in your basement or attic is something that can potentially be turned into cash.
Another step in figuring out how to earn extra money is figuring out what you're really motivated to do. Are you willing to take your Saturday and Sunday mornings and turn them into profit? If so, then start a local lawn service. Offer to mow lawns, trim hedges, rake leaves, shovel snow - whatever fits you the best. There's nothing wrong with a bit of manual labor, especially if it's the difference between making rent that month and not. Or if it's the difference between keeping your credit score on the good side of the ledger, an issue that's becoming more and more of a concern as banks put the squeeze on more and more people.
One of the great ways to pick up some extra cash if you've got a truck or a pickup is to perform "Man with a van" services. How to earn extra money with this? Well, you'll see this advertised on Craigslist all the time, especially in cities where few people have cars, and professional moving services tend to price gouge. Charge whatever you think is realistic - you can do research on this online - and always be courteous and diligent. Once you've built up a reputation as a prompt and hard worker, you'd be surprised at how much cash word-of-mouth can bring in for you. And that is the point, after all, isn't it?
If you're not the "man-with-a-van" type, you could consider gardening and selling your own home-grown fruits and vegetables. Or having a car wash, or becoming a dog-walker. All of these personal services are in demand, and finding the one that suits you best shouldn't be too hard. Love dogs and exercise? Advertise your services. Grow the best carrots in the neighborhood? Set up a stand downtown and earn a couple of bucks.
The opportunities are there. Just make sure you take the time to look for them!