by A. Moulton

Created on: March 18, 2008

Most people would love a sure fire way to make a quick and easy buck. But it's hard, especially with the Internet, to know what is a genuine offer and what is too good to be true.

First piece of advice, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! You can't make $200 an hour by signing up at a website. Also, you can't earn $500 a day by doing nothing. Nothing is ever free, there is often hidden (or not-so hidden) fees, which can be very hard to get refunded if you feel you've been defrauded. If you're about to pay to get an opportunity, STOP. Put down the credit card, it will probably cost you more then you know in the long run.

Now for the good stuff, how to make a few extra dollars. I have three places that are great sources of extra income. In order to make enough to survive solely on this, you will have to put in a lot of work. However if you're just looking to fill a little free time or some extra fun money, these are excellent ideas.

Mystery Shopping - There are many many free and useful mystery shopping websites. Just a few:

www.sassie.com
www.sasnet.com
www.cybershopper.com

Mystery shopping is a great way to supplement your income. One downfall to mystery shopping is the infrequency in the shops, depending on your area, there may be lots of other shoppers. Shoppers are frequently picked based on experience and past results, so it can be hard to get that first shop. Once you do, it's a great way to earn a few extra.

Got a craft skill? Want to use it to make some money? www.etsy.com is a great website featuring artist and craftsters from around the world. Etsy also is a very affordable way to get your product out there. It's also a great and fun community to kill some time on. All items are handmade, and usually very affordable. A few downfalls, some of the categories are flooded with people trying to make it. Jewelry for instance is one of the most popular categories. What you put into it is what you get, so if you go this route, promote promote promote! It's addicting, so watch out!

Finally, there are lots of websites which offer you the opportunity to earn cash while taking surveys. One I found that works is Vindale.

http://tryvindale.com/VbAkC48Is

Vindale connects individuals to companies looking for feedback on their products, typically on line products. Some require a credit card, remember to go back and cancel! Some require a purchase of a product, but the purchase is included in your reimbursement. Once you achieve $50.00 you can request a check, it took 3 days for me to hit that mark! So far this is the best option I have come across.

Now you have a few tips on how to make a few extra dollars. So go, earn some dough and buy me some presents! Okay, maybe not me, but there's someone in your life that deserves something special.

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