Legit ways to make money online? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

todd · 11-04-2005, 07:46 AM

I'm looking to make a little chump change; just something to fuel my ebay surfing passion, and help support my weekly trip to Taco Bell.

I've heard a bit about supposidly easy ways to make money online, like through web-advertising and stuff like that, and was thinking about giving it a try. I also once read an article about how easy it was to set up an ebay business and get affiliated with products, but I can't find that article and had trouble finding any information about the process on ebay website.

What are some other options? Has anybody here tried something free and easy like this?

maleficent · 11-04-2005, 09:08 AM

I suppose an actual job would be out of the question?

There was one place I was playing at that was keeping me in starbucks gift cards... all I had to do was write reviews of local business (there were some caveats - no chains or anything like that and the review had to be a certain number of words....) but five reviews got me 5 starbucks dollars...

Tamerlain · 11-04-2005, 03:21 PM

Online Poker is an option, if you're any good. Tables range from $.01 to $1000 buy-in tournaments, so there's something for every budget.

I play at www.pokerstars.com - you just download the software, buy some chips and play to your heart's content. There are play money tables too, if you've never played before and want to learn how.

-Tamerlain

alec · 12-03-2005, 12:09 PM

If you run a website, Google Ads.

If you have a lot of semi-pricey stuff, Ebay.

If you have lots of books/cds/other media, half.com or Amazon.

Rodney · 12-04-2005, 07:48 AM

Nothing's free and easy. Even if you do web advertising, that means you spent time putting together a site that people actually want to visit.

As far as setting up on eBay is concerned, the people who make money there really hustle and take risks, just like brick-and-mortar businesses. The advantage is that initial risk is reduced, because you can start selling on eBay with very investment. You can experiment without getting burned badly.

eBay is the vahalla for the flea market and garage sale set. If you want to make some cash, find out what you can buy cheaply and easily in your area, and see if people from other areas are willing to pay more for it on eBay. I met a woman in my town who clears $60K a year on eBay selling used items. Of course she knows what to buy, and spends all her time going to rummage sales and thrift shops. But she'd do that anyway, because that's what she loves...

Some examples: my wife knits, and likes to buy yarn on eBay. Some people live near woolen mills and buy the "mill ends" (end of the run yarn) at dirt cheap prices, and make money selling the yarn on eBay.

Or... I collect community cookbooks, those spiral-bound things full of terrible recipes put out as fundraisers by churches, schools, etc. You can buy 'em for a dime or a quarter at rummage sales. People from different parts of the country gather up 10 or 20 and sell them in big lots, which go for $15 or $20 or more. I sometimes buy these lots, because they contain local cookbooks from other parts of the country that I'll never find at my own local thriftshops. And a buck a book is still a deal to me, even with shipping. And the seller clear $10-$20 on books he/she maybe spent $3 on.

It takes work, but it's something anyone can do.

Cynthetiq · 12-10-2005, 06:51 PM

free and easy making money?

if there was, then everyone would be doing it...

there's things with less risk like Rodney suggests.

Lewis · 02-01-2006, 08:26 AM

Well, as I mentioned before, I do Forex. That seems to be the best way to make decent money online - just as long as you take the 'gambling' aspect out of it.

So I did that, by developing a technique that works. I'd love to tell you about it but Hal doesn't like people to advertise stiff here (understandably), so I don't know how you give good, practical help in a situation like this.

11-04-2005, 07:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
todd Addict Location: Chicago	Legit ways to make money online? I'm looking to make a little chump change; just something to fuel my ebay surfing passion, and help support my weekly trip to Taco Bell. I've heard a bit about supposidly easy ways to make money online, like through web-advertising and stuff like that, and was thinking about giving it a try. I also once read an article about how easy it was to set up an ebay business and get affiliated with products, but I can't find that article and had trouble finding any information about the process on ebay website. What are some other options? Has anybody here tried something free and easy like this?

11-04-2005, 09:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	I suppose an actual job would be out of the question? There was one place I was playing at that was keeping me in starbucks gift cards... all I had to do was write reviews of local business (there were some caveats - no chains or anything like that and the review had to be a certain number of words....) but five reviews got me 5 starbucks dollars... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

12-04-2005, 07:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Nothing's free and easy. Even if you do web advertising, that means you spent time putting together a site that people actually want to visit. As far as setting up on eBay is concerned, the people who make money there really hustle and take risks, just like brick-and-mortar businesses. The advantage is that initial risk is reduced, because you can start selling on eBay with very investment. You can experiment without getting burned badly. eBay is the vahalla for the flea market and garage sale set. If you want to make some cash, find out what you can buy cheaply and easily in your area, and see if people from other areas are willing to pay more for it on eBay. I met a woman in my town who clears $60K a year on eBay selling used items. Of course she knows what to buy, and spends all her time going to rummage sales and thrift shops. But she'd do that anyway, because that's what she loves... Some examples: my wife knits, and likes to buy yarn on eBay. Some people live near woolen mills and buy the "mill ends" (end of the run yarn) at dirt cheap prices, and make money selling the yarn on eBay. Or... I collect community cookbooks, those spiral-bound things full of terrible recipes put out as fundraisers by churches, schools, etc. You can buy 'em for a dime or a quarter at rummage sales. People from different parts of the country gather up 10 or 20 and sell them in big lots, which go for $15 or $20 or more. I sometimes buy these lots, because they contain local cookbooks from other parts of the country that I'll never find at my own local thriftshops. And a buck a book is still a deal to me, even with shipping. And the seller clear $10-$20 on books he/she maybe spent $3 on. It takes work, but it's something anyone can do. Last edited by Rodney; 12-04-2005 at 07:55 AM..

12-10-2005, 06:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	free and easy making money? if there was, then everyone would be doing it... there's things with less risk like Rodney suggests. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

11-04-2005, 03:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tamerlain Insane Location: Victoria	Online Poker is an option, if you're any good. Tables range from $.01 to $1000 buy-in tournaments, so there's something for every budget. I play at www.pokerstars.com - you just download the software, buy some chips and play to your heart's content. There are play money tables too, if you've never played before and want to learn how. -Tamerlain

12-03-2005, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
alec Insane Location: Washington DC	If you run a website, Google Ads. If you have a lot of semi-pricey stuff, Ebay. If you have lots of books/cds/other media, half.com or Amazon.

02-01-2006, 08:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lewis Artist and author Location: Ireland	Well, as I mentioned before, I do Forex. That seems to be the best way to make decent money online - just as long as you take the 'gambling' aspect out of it. So I did that, by developing a technique that works. I'd love to tell you about it but Hal doesn't like people to advertise stiff here (understandably), so I don't know how you give good, practical help in a situation like this.