Need extra income? Here are some ideas

Here's an idea for additional income that never occurred to us: You can make $20 or more an hour by stringing tennis rackets. In fact, Scott at The Passive Dad tells you how to take a crash course.

We all know about selling stuff on eBay and having yard sales. But what about some alternative sources of income that everyone else hasn't thought of, like renting out your driveway as a parking space. Here are a few more.

Taking online surveys. For an excellent overview, read "Surveys for fun and pocket change" at I've Paid For This Twice Already. (Notice from the title that you won't get rich quick doing this.) Also, Bob at Christian PF gives a quick tour of CashCrate, which pays anywhere from 30 cents to more than $1 each time you fill out a brief survey. Warning from Bob: Set up a separate e-mail address to keep your regular inbox from filling up with spam.

Megan at Counting My Pennies is signed up with both Pinecone Research and BuzzBack.

Pet sitting in people's homes. We set up a limited liability corporation and purchased insurance for it. A friend designed and printed our business cards. After a year or so of buying a small ad in the newspaper, we dropped that expense because our business grows through word of mouth.

Cleaning up after people's pets. This service comes in particularly handy in northern climes, where layers of snow guarantee ample business opportunities once the spring thaw arrives.

Selling handmade items on Etsy. We found this idea at Moolanomy's "40+ alternative income ideas and resources," which we recommend you take the time to read. It covers everything from mystery shopping to investing. We also recommend Pinyo's "Extra income guide."

Trapping or hunting feral hogs. Honest. We found this idea at Stealth Survival, where Texas-based "Riverwalker" adds, "Through the sale of trapping and hunting rights for feral hog populations on your property you can generate additional income for yourself in these difficult economic times." Check with local wildlife officials first.

If you're short on funds, you may want to focus on ideas like these that don't require a lot of cash upfront. Scott says, "Lots of people are looking for the perfect work-at-home business, and (stringing rackets) could certainly allow you to start one for very little money."

Published Sept. 17, 2008