Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag » Money makingLiving off the Smell of an Oily Rag

Timebanks

reader — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 18:42:00 +0000

DJ from Whangarei writes, “There is a movement called Time Banking. There are TimeBanks set up around the country. You might pay a small joining fee then list your skills, connect with others and request help on things and offer help to others in return. Everyone’s time is equal.”

This is what Time Bank says on their website (timebanks.nz): “TimeBanking is a way of trading skills in a community. It facilitates the sharing of skills between its members, both individuals and organisations. TimeBanking activity is measured by the time it takes to complete a piece of work. It’s a kind of money, a complimentary currency…Time Credits are used as payment, not money. You earn time credits for the work you do, and then use those credits to ‘buy’ another member’s time to get the services you need – from any member of the TimeBank, not necessarily the member you helped. The member you kindly assisted may not have the skills that you need…Everyone’s Time is Equal – no matter what type of work is undertaken, one hour always equals one time credit. 1 = 1. It really is that simple…we all have something to offer. Every person and every skill is equally valued.”

According to their website, there are 14 TimeBank organisations in the North Island and 15 in the South Island.

It’s a nice way to give time to others, and receive their time in return.

Many thanks to DJ for sharing the information.

Lotto

reader — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 19:19:17 +0000

John from Northland writes, “The Lotto prize pool only returns 53c for every $1 spent. Not a great investment!”

Anonymous

reader — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 05:27:40 +0000

What about this to make a few oily rag dollars: Throw on a uniform, fill a cane basket with fresh sandwiches, filled rolls, yoghurt, muffins and apples and you’re in business. Go door-to-door round office buildings offering the mouth-watering temptations – arrive just before morning tea or lunch. (Don’t forget to check out the local authority heath regulations!)

Stephanie.

reader — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:52:09 +0000

Let kids save for their own college fund by encouraging them from a very early age to earn money by getting paid for what they enjoy doing!

Our little boy who is now three loves dogs, so we offered to walk the neighbours’ dog for $5 a week. It makes us get out for exercise and gives the dog half an hour of much needed attention while their owner is at work. I know it doesn’t sound like much but each year he earns himself $260 for his college fund so I’m calculating by the time he is 18 he will have well over $4,000 towards his college education – just from this hobby alone.

Similarly our daughter enjoys baking so every week we invite her friends over to a baking session making simple things like scones, biscuits, raisin buns etc. They are learning something new and having fun. The mums are more than happy to contribute $5-$10 for the ingredients and the pleasure of not having to mess up their own house. We put half in the kitty for the ingredients and half goes to my daughter’s college fund so she can save between $10 and $20 each week. If we are able to do something like this every week until she is 18 she would have over $8,000!

LM, Kapiti coast.

reader — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:50:57 +0000

I sell stuff on Trademe when some extra cash is needed.

SWB, Auckland.

reader — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:50:20 +0000

Many people think they can get good pocket money by delivering junk mail. THEY CAN’T! I did it for a few years and I wouldn’t pay young kids the hourly rate it works out at! And also it’s hard work!

If you live in an urban area ask your local real estate agent if they want circulars delivered. They tend to be a bit tight until you can satisfy them that you’re reliable but YOU set the pay rate, and if they don’t want to pay that much they can do it themselves.

Once you have a couple of regular clients, ask around local businesses for the same work, but tell them you’ll give them a cheaper rate to deliver in areas where you’re already going. I charge real estate agents $70/1000 flyers and have been told by 2 clients that I’m not charging enough!

Add-on work is $60/1000 which can give me a return of about $23/hr cash! and it keeps me fit and healthy so I’ll live longer. I’d kill myself trying to earn that much from a junk mail company – their average is about $4/hr overall.

O.R.

reader — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:48:42 +0000

Make computer games, do typing (word processing) for others, or make custom-made greeting cards. Come up with your own funny messages.

C.B.

reader — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:47:45 +0000

I taught children to play the recorder for 25 years. The last 10 years were the most enjoyable because small groups of children came to my home for lessons. There were no distractions or pressures, no parents hovering nearby. There was time for fun as well as tuition. Home tutoring is nothing new – but it is particularly effective when it takes place in the tutor’s home and the pupil does not feel his parent’s worries, hopes, ambitions on his shoulders. All kinds of tuition would be successful if conducted in the tutor’s home, not the pupils home – both adults and children could benefit. Reading, computer skills, confidence building, making party desserts, anything.

Gathering golf balls

Oily Rag Ed' — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:46:33 +0000

How about gathering golf balls – water traps are the best so put on your wet suit and get into it. But be careful as the tail of one good keen oily ragger from the UK shows. He plunged the depths, retrieving up to 1200 golf balls at a time. At around 50 cents each for poor quality ball it was a nice little earner. But his initiative landed him in jail. He got sentenced to 6 months for theft, but after a public outcry was released after only 9 days! The moral of the story: there’s money in golf balls, but ask first.

Have a look on Trademe to see what the current rate is for second hand golf balls.

– Oily Rag Ed’

Natz, Nelson.

reader — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:44:01 +0000

I am on a low income and started a coin jar. I only ever took money out for the bus and I just took it to the bank and cashed in (five month later), it turned out to be $309. Just goes to show how quickly it builds up!