Whether you have a family to support or still single and live on your own, earning some extra amount for daily needs is a common objective nowadays. The good news is that you don't necessarily have to leave home to do that. Just look around inside your house and you'll discover that the opportunities are just waiting around. Melody Warnick, though her article in Reader's Digest, recommends that you look into the following.
1. Lost Receipts (Possible Earning: $144 a year)
Those jeans or other items that don't fit right and are stuck in your closet because you can no longer find the receipt can rake more dollars for you. The National Retail Federation says that Americans return almost nine percent of the merchandise they buy in stores. While many retailers will let you make a return without a receipt, your credit may be for the lowest-ever price. So the next time a clerk asks if you want the receipt placed in your bag, say no and keep it in your wallet until you are sure the purchase works.
2. Unused Gift Cards (Possible Earning: $48 each)
You may not remember your gift cards left in your old purses or buried in your drawers. The average card is worth about $48. It is best that you keep a holding tank, like an envelope or a file folder, and then schedule a shopping trip to use it. You may also need to record and store your card details, the number and PIN, on your computer or phone. When you lose your card, some retailers will replace it if you can provide those digits.
3. Missing Credit Card Bills (Possible Earning: $665 a year)
Your bills, buried under a mound of catalogs and papers, can give you extra cost when they are already overdue. Being 60 days late will penalize you an interest rate of up to 28 percent. Likewise, according to Creditcards.com, if you make only the minimum payments, that would add about $665 in interest a year to a cardholder balance of $4,000. Sort your papers, tuck any leftover paper bills into a drawer, and schedule your regular monthly payments.
4. Rented Storage Unit (Possible Earning: $1,416 to $1,812 per year)
About one in nine households rent a storage unit. Have that determination to toss or sell stuff without the guilt. Discarding something that you never use is not being wasteful, but paying for a rented storage for items you don't need anymore will strip you $1,416 to $1,812 per year.
5. Stray Loose Change (Possible Earning: $90 for the average household)
Instead of leaving the nickels left between couch cushions, pennies in car cup holders, and quarters at the bottom of bags, buy a piggy bank or use a jar to keep them. Once your storage fills up, haul it to your bank. Some banks and some credit unions will count change for free for their customers.
