Help! I need suggestions!

[MyManGoofy!]

I have found out that the company I work for is giving us 10 days off for Christmas. Yeah! 10 whole days without pay. (that would be sarcasm if I wasn't crying so hard.)

Things have been really tight for a while now - I have nothing left in savings, my budget is down to the basics and now this. I have been looking for a second job for months now and have applied to every restaurant (fast food and sit down), retailer, gas station, grocery story etc... in a 30 mile radius of my home and no one is hiring. I am also looking for a better day job, sadly with the same results.

We had no Thanksgiving this year and now I will not be doing anything for Christmas or my son's birthday on the 27th. However, rent has to be paid and I will be short 900 dollars.

What I am looking for is suggestions on how to make money. If anyone is in the Brevard County area and needs a worker - I will do ANYTHING. I will clean toilets, rake yards, wash windows and do laundry.

I just don't know what to do.

 

[HelenePA]

do you have vacation time you can use to cover those days? How about selling gold? I actually did this last week with crappy stuff I bought at kmart when I was a teen and made a 150$ it was VERY crappy stuff too!

 

[merekc]

Total brainstorming, so some ideas are better than others.

Is there any possibility that there is a need at your company for anyone to be in the office during those 10 days? For example, one person to keep the office open, answer phones and sign for packages? It might be worth asking.

I've never done it and don't know if it is worth it, but what about selling plasma. I'm not sure how much you get, but every little bit helps.

What about telling everyone you know that you are available for in home babysitting that week? Schools are out and a lot of people have the burden of finding babysitting. $100 for the week.

Do you have things you can sell on Craigslist as we approach Christmas? We were going through our video games and have several that we are thinking of getting rid of. It isn't worth trading them in because we would get nothing from the game stores, but I bet we would get at least $100 selling on Craigslist (with no Ebay fees).

Are you crafty and have materials on hand (so no additional expense) that you could make stuff and sell it prior to Christmas? Time is short for this, but just throwing out ideas.

What about putting flyers up at the grocery store offering to wrap presents? You might be surprised, but you'd need to determine a price that people would pay and is still worth your time (which it might not be).

 

[Loverly]

What about telling everyone you know that you are available for in home babysitting that week? Schools are out and a lot of people have the burden of finding babysitting. $100 for the week.

).

That is a great idea! Lots of folks need sitters for the holiday time when their older kids are out of school

 

[stsomewhere]

You could see if you can collect unemployment for those days.

 

[HelenePA]

You could see if you can collect unemployment for those days.

I was thinking about that too, but in PA you have 2 week "waiting' week or something and those days dont count I'm not sure we never used it my brother did last year.. I'm sure its different in CA probably worth a try! How about a temp agency?

 

[Chicago526]

Check with your town and county, there could be some programs you may qualify for. You can also go to a food bank for assistance, the less you spend on food, the more you can use towards the rent. If you belong to a church, see if they are able to help you out (especially with presents for your DS). Even if you don't belong to a church, many are willing to help anyone, and not just members of their congregation.

I know people don't like taking help or charity, but honestly, this is exactly what it is there for, to help hard working people through lean times. When you're back on your feet, you can repay other peoples kindness by paying it forward, and helping someone else.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

do you have vacation time you can use to cover those days? How about selling gold? I actually did this last week with crappy stuff I bought at kmart when I was a teen and made a 150$ it was VERY crappy stuff too!

My mom did that too to pay for Christmas. She made 400.

 

[merekc]

What about throwing a gold party? I don't know anything about them, but I assume that if you host a party you get a cut. If you could get one set up for next week, people might jump on it. Promote it as a way to pay cash for Christmas or replenish your savings account after buying for Christmas.

 

[merekc]

What about telling everyone you know that you are available for in home babysitting that week? Schools are out and a lot of people have the burden of finding babysitting. $100 for the week.

I thought I should clarify since so far I see this as one of your biggest money maker potentials. In your home so you can take as many kids as you can stand (within reason of course). $100 per kid, for the week.

 

[c4a]

You could see if you can collect unemployment for those days.

Usually, need to be off for 2 weeks to qualify (as you would).

Craigslist has had some bad reviews on the news, lately. Scammers going in and "hijacking" ads-changing the info to make themselves the contact person (double scamming)link It also made the Lexington and Cinci news.

Selling plasma pays well...but it well...pt. blank...hurts like freaking crazy.No pain-no gain, though. And you will get a nice little cup of O.J. (juice-not Simpson, sorry. )

Babysitting, gift wrapping, decorating houses for Christmas (lights outside, putting up Christmas trees), taking older people shopping (helping them with their errands), if have healthcare experience...go by the local Hospice center (their family members need a "break"), sometimes teachers need help grading papers over the holidays so check local schools, if can sew-schools and churches are doing pagents...may need someone to do costumes.

 

[freckles and boo]

If you are most concerned about your rent, see if your landlord will let you work off some of it. If you live in an apartment complex perhaps there are some units that need cleaning or painting. My neighbor owns a small apartment complex and one of his tenants pays very low rent because he does quite a bit of maintenance. If your landlord is willing to do this GET IT IN WRITING!!! and notarized, too.


ETA - in the "vein" of selling plasma (tee-hee) you can also check Craigslist for medical studies. I suppose it depends on where you live, but the medical centers here in the Chicago area are always looking for study subjects. Sleep studies, drug studies, etc. You probably wouldn't get paid right away but some of the money isn't bad.

 

[java]

Can you dog sit? around here if they come to your house twice a day it's like $50. During Christmas week- I bet a lot of people need those kind of services. If you lived in NJ I would be asking you to do that.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I thought I should clarify since so far I see this as one of your biggest money maker potentials. In your home so you can take as many kids as you can stand (within reason of course). $100 per kid, for the week.

I was going to suggest rob a bank, but that works too.

 

[merekc]

I don't know if this will help. I googled to determine what state you are in. Found this link. Might be worth looking into for help with your job hunt.

http://www.brevardjoblink.org/

P.S. Dog sitting is another great idea. If you can stand pets, lots of people travel for the holidays. Check out the prices of kenneling in your area and offer to help people out for cheaper than the kennels.

Personally, I couldn't do it.

I also like the idea of helping with maintenance if that option is available.

I assume your time off is after Christmas. You could offer services for Christmas cleanup or putting up the decorations, taking down lights. Once Christmas is over, I dread doing these things, it is no longer fun.

Along the babysitter idea, what about babysitting on New Year's Eve. A lot of people struggle to find sitters this night.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to check into them.

I am a contractor in this company (read temporary although long term) and only those that are perm employees will be allowed to work through the month.

The time they are giving us is not consecutive. For example - I will have 2 days off this week, 3 next week and 4 the following week and one the week after that. The few part time jobs available here want you to have full time availability even though you will only get part time hours.

I had thought about putting up an ad of some sort on Craigslist but now am rethinking that. Sounds like it might be dangerous or shady at the very least.

I am in such a panic about this that it is hard to calm my brain to think things out, so thank you all for throwing some things out there for me.

What really kicked me in the gut is that they let us know of this by email with a cute little smilie and the message "Enjoy your extra time off to shop or go out of town to visit friends and relatives!" Do they really think we are here working this job as something to pass the time and not as a source of income?

 

[merekc]

I would still notify them that you are extremely interested in working if the opportunity comes up. You never know if someone who is guaranteed work may become ill or want the time off. Or they may realize they could use more help during this time. They may be more likely to call if they know you are wanting to work. Make sure you let them know you will come in with no notice if necessary (if you are willing).

Good luck!

 

[Kathi OD]

I was thinking about that too, but in PA you have 2 week "waiting' week or something and those days dont count I'm not sure we never used it my brother did last year.. I'm sure its different in CA probably worth a try! How about a temp agency?

It's a one week waiting period in PA. I only know because DH is collecting.

 

[Loverly]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to check into them.

I am a contractor in this company (read temporary although long term) and only those that are perm employees will be allowed to work through the month.

The time they are giving us is not consecutive. For example - I will have 2 days off this week, 3 next week and 4 the following week and one the week after that. The few part time jobs available here want you to have full time availability even though you will only get part time hours.

?

That is terrible! And very hard to find limited part time...

 

[c4a]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to check into them.

I am a contractor in this company (read temporary although long term) and only those that are perm employees will be allowed to work through the month.

The time they are giving us is not consecutive. For example - I will have 2 days off this week, 3 next week and 4 the following week and one the week after that. The few part time jobs available here want you to have full time availability even though you will only get part time hours.

I had thought about putting up an ad of some sort on Craigslist but now am rethinking that. Sounds like it might be dangerous or shady at the very least.

I am in such a panic about this that it is hard to calm my brain to think things out, so thank you all for throwing some things out there for me.

What really kicked me in the gut is that they let us know of this by email with a cute little smilie and the message "Enjoy your extra time off to shop or go out of town to visit friends and relatives!" Do they really think we are here working this job as something to pass the time and not as a source of income?

How tacky. Suppose it was to ease their own feelings of guilt. Here is some time off to go shop...take a trip...yes, we realize that we are cutting your hours, so you will have less money for bills...& with Christmas, also...but hey, take a trip & spend more money that you don't have...

I would have been so ticked. Talk about kicking sand in your face once you've been knocked down.