If you are going to win the money game, you must start thinking about how to increase your cash flow. You may not be able to reduce your cost enough to get over a financial crisis, so more income may be needed. Start by considering which of your talents might be worth a few extra bucks and then go out there and do it. You might need 
to take a part-time job or start a part-time business.
Some of you have been dreaming of your own business or a change in your job or career for a long time. All I can say is that you need to do what you are passionate about. Sometimes we are not making money because we have sabotaged our futures by doing things for which we have no passion. I have seen people who are in financial trouble because they have not been true to themselves, and they covered it up by overspending on things that they thought would make them happy. I also know folks who have been fired from every job that they had. It never occurred to them that if you hate what you do and you dislike the people with whom you are doing it, then it will be reflected in your work. You can do anything for a short period of time; but to do something for the long-term and still have your physical health and mental sanity requires doing something that you really feel good about.
Even if you feel that you have gone too far in your current direction to turn around now, start thinking about something that you can do on a part-time basis. It will give you some joy and make a difference in a down economy. We all know that when the economy sours, or a company’s fortunes change for the worse that it is usually the rank and file who suffer the consequences, even though they were not the ones who made the decisions. I often wonder does anyone in management know what strategic planning really is. Well, you can call it restructuring, reengineering, downsizing or whatever the latest term is, it still translates into “no more paychecks.” So stop dreaming and start making money. Make your life more fulfilling and profitable by taking control of your destiny.
Here are some income-generating ideas:
Increase your cash flow by translating your hobbies, interests and pet-peeves into dollars. All of your do-it-yourself knowledge could translate into big dollars! Do you enjoy woodworking, floral design, sewing, shopping? Do you like working with computers in areas of graphics, web design, software, repair? Are you good working with animals, children, the elderly? Can you repair cars, appliances, anything? Are you an organized, everything-in-its-place person? Are you the type who cringes at grammatical errors and can spot a misspelled word a mile away? Do you have the “gift of influence,” i.e., can talk anyone into or out of anything? Are you a cleanliness fanatic? All of these hobbies or interests or skills may be bankable. Consider which of your talents might be worth a few extra bucks and then go out there and do it.
Increase your cash flow by translating the skills from your current job into dollars. Your teaching skills could be used for tutoring. Your housekeeping, janitorial skills could be used to get those foreclosed properties into shape for resale.
Take on a part-time job. Many people supplement their salaries with part-time retail jobs. Just don’t spend it all.
Keep your job skills sharp and up-to-date so that when a new opportunity comes up, you will be ready for it.
Become your own boss. The idea of being your own boss, the freedom to control your own fate and to be master of your own destiny, is often only a dream. But, it can be done. Check out the resources in our “Mind Your Own Business” section.
Get paid for taking online surveys and participating in focus groups. This is definitely not a get-rich-quick or a get-rich-slowly scheme. But as someone once said, “A little bit of money beats no money every time.”
About the Author:
Myrtle Sanders is an online entrepreneur with varied interests. She has a network of websites offering ebooks, domain registration, hosting and more. Check out her main website at http://www.MyrtleSanders.com.