Maybe you're around the corner from 30 and aren't even half way through student loans. Or you bit off more than you can chew with the nice house everyone said you could afford. If you've cut back to absolute frugal basics and still find it hard to get by, you need to generate more revenue. This might mean getting a better job. These days it probably means you'll need a part-time gig.

It's important to realize this new working arrangement is temporary. You will not need to slave 80+ hours a week to make ends meet forever.  The side-job is a means to the end of your self-induced debt slavery. These jobs may not need a college degree and you will feel somewhat humiliated in considering them--but you have a choice to make.  Don't fall victim to the "what will people think?" mantra so you can get out of that hole.  

If you have a unique skill set--such as specialized computer knowledge or sales--making extra money via contract work may be the fastest way to generate more income.  But for many of us, good old fashioned elbow grease is usually in order:

Pizza Delivery
Bring in an extra $600 each month for schlepping pizza pies around town.  Yes, you'll need to put a few miles on the car, but it's only temporary.  Look for gigs that will compensate your gas money to make the most of it.  The gourmet or higher end pizza delivery companies will usually compensate better, plus you'll get a better meal at the end of the night!

Wait Tables
Working nights and weekends pays big for servers.  Plus you won't have to hit the gym from the physical workout you're getting at the restaurant.  Aside from the, ahem, difficult patron you're compensated appropriately in cash tips for your work performance.  Get great tips on tips before applying.

In-Home Childcare
This is geared more for stay-at-home-moms who are looking to earn some extra dough while getting to spend time with the kids.  Ask around at church or in your neighborhood for people needing to find childcare for their preschooler.  Chances are they would rather sent Junior to someone they know and trust than a sterile 6-to-1 ratio at a day care.  You get built-in companions for your children and the opportunity to bring in more money for something you're doing already.

Valet
Talk about an easy, cash-only gig that let's you get a great workout.  If you're lucky enough to score a job in Las Vegas, valets earn up to $60,000 (working long hours, of course).  In most areas you can make $10-$15/hour which is stellar for a part-time job with no requirements.

Newspaper Delivery
Early birds will love the quiet and solitude of a paper route.  Finish by 7am and go about regular job.  You can generally earn about $25 a day, which works out to $10/hour.  Most delivery jobs require your own transportation and gas, but for the mindless ease and lack of annoying customers, a paper route is an easy bet.

Now that my daughter is 2, I’m finding my closets are bloated and my floors overrun with toys. In researching options to make some room without losing my shirt on what I’ve paid out, I’ve found the local consignment sales are a good option. I get 65% of my selling price, and first dibs at shopping at the sales themselves. These are usually held twice a year at community centers, churches or homes. Multiple consignors come together and split the cost of facility and equipment rentals. To find consignment sales in your area, do an Internet search along with your local city’s name or check online national listings.

Here are some tips to get your clothing items to sell quickly at these types of sales, and for the right price.

• Carefully inspect for stains or missing buttons and snaps.
• Ensure that sets are the same size, or sell separately.
• Gently wash and dry items for sale.
• Ironing will go a great distance in selling your items quickly.
• Make sure each piece hangs on a hanger except for undergarments and onesies. Place those in plastic bags.
• If you use separate hangers for multiple pieces to one outfit, use clear zip ties to keep them together.
• Use safety pins to attach additional pieces to the back of the outfit, like bloomers.
• Pin pants to hanger shoulders to keep them from sliding and folding together.
• Price clothing at what you would be willing to pay for it. Under or over-pricing will prevent the item from selling as quickly.
• Reduce the price by 50% on the last day of the sale to ensure you don’t go home with your remaining inventory.
• Include an item description on the sales tag, in the event that one piece or the tag itself gets separated from the item. Use safety pins to attach tags to the clothing.

When the clutter creeps into every cranny and boxes bask in the shady spot your car once inhabited, you know it's time to eliminate.  While I love the enterprising idea of eBay, it seems time consuming and complicated. 

Plus I can't stand the post office lines.  Sometimes a good old-fashioned garage sale can bring in a nice chunk of change without the hassle of online auctions.  But be prepared!  Planning for your sale can send sales sky high just as the lack of prep can sink them.

Step 1: Decide who, what, when, and where.
Plan at least one month in advance to start collecting items and separating them to a garage sale pile.  For maximum success invite the neighbors to participate.  Yes, it may cause a bit more drama and require additional preparation, but hosting a multi-family sale can really boost profits. 

Remember: the early bird catches the worm!  Most hard-core shoppers expect sales to begin early.  7:00am is a good time to start to steer clear of the heat and get some good buyers.  To avoid the languishing afternoon stragglers, make a cut off around lunchtime.  

Step 2: Get the word out.
Scope out the neighborhood papers and thrift ads to post a notice.  If you have a multi-family sale, list it first in capital letters.  Put a few specialty items that would appeal to a wide variety of buyers but also include general categories.  Split the cost of your ad with the neighbors.  

Step 3: Get a permit and investigate signage.
Most larger communities require permits for garage sales and typically set a limit for the number of sales allowed per year.  You must have the permit on site if a trusty city official swings by, so keep it in the cash box.  If you can post signs, buy foam board in a bright color and write with a chisel tip sharpie the address of your sale.  Post two or three more signs (with balloons) to direct traffic.

Step 4: Prepare the goods.
Don't try to sell stuff with dust on it.  Grab a wipe and scour.  No one buys a dirty car just as few people want to pay for a food-encrusted high chair.  At least pretend that you treasure your belongings and paint them in the best light possible.

Step 5: The price is right.
If going in with more than one seller, buy different colored blank stickers to label your items.  Write with a sharpie and include your initials on each label.  Include OBO on larger items you are willing to negotiate.  Keep in mind that you'll have to budge on most bigger ticket things, so you may want to price it slightly higher.

Often, saving money and reducing your spending is not enough, if you’re carrying a load of debt or trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck. Here is a list of ideas to help you actually create the extra cash you need.

1. Sell, sell, sell.
The first step is to take inventory of what you own. Start with your clothes. If you haven’t worn it in a year, you won’t ever wear it again. Make three piles: 1. What I wear; 2. What I think I’ll wear one day, and 3. What was I thinking when I bought that? Out of piles 2 and 3, take out nicer items you can sell on eBay, like suits, dresses, shoes in good shape or purses. Place the rest of piles two and three in garbage bags and set aside for a yard sale.

An easy way to get rid of previously read books and watched DVDs is to sell them on Amazon.com (in addition to eBay). In many cities there are eBay drop-off shops that handle sales, shipping, invoicing, and collection like www.i-soldit.com.

Before you start envisioning a garage full of cans and plastic goods, read on. The world of recycling has changed in the last decade and, with a few lifestyle adjustments you can reap big rewards. Not only does product reuse help you collect extra money, it is environmentally responsible.

1. Paper Products
The going rate on one ton of paper is roughly $50. If you subscribe to the local paper, use paper in your house, or get junk mail, paper collection could be an ongoing moneymaker for you. Unless you plan on dropping off monthly or weekly to a local collection center clear a small space in the garage to stack paper. Routinely stack junk mail, newspaper, and computer paper in the designated area.

2. Aluminum Cans
Currently the rate for one pound of aluminum is $1.30. Many collection spots have reverse vending machines--pour the cans in and cash out. A large kitchen bag will pay out $3.50 at that rate. Keep a bag in the kitchen and review with family members what to put in it. If you have multiple children, make it a game of how many cans or bottles each child can collect in a week. When you combine your own recyclables with your neighbors' the price tag adds up.

Before you clean your home with store-bought chemicals and toss your clutter in the dumpster, consider these tips to make money while spring cleaning.

1. Use natural cleaning products. Most homemade cleaners rely on super cheap items you probably already have at home: vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. But do they work?

I tested homemade cleaners in two super dirty rooms - my kitchen and bathroom - and was shocked by the results.

I scrubbed my kitchen sink with baking soda, skeptical that it would leave the porcelain sparkling white like my usual solution of diluted bleach. But guess what? After less than two minutes of scrubbing, a few tablespoons of baking soda on a steel wool pad washed away stains. My sink was white! Plus, I didn't have to breath in toxic fumes. Score!

Would I see the same results in the bathroom?
Even the toughest chemicals were powerless to remove the white drip marks on my black bathroom tile. (Don't ask me why my landlord chose black tile. The stuff shows every speck of dirt!)