Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

 I just got layed off today. Does anyone know of anyway to make money without money. I live in a very small town. It does not matter what your education level is, there just are not enough jobs here. Someone please help me if they know something.

Perhaps you could start a facility which helps people look for jobs? Ironic, right?            

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-- Justin Lilly University of South Carolina

Sell stuff for friends and family on ebay. You as the middle man can claim anything over their asking price.

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-- Justin Lilly University of South Carolina

I agree with the eBay suggestion. Buy a book and learn as much as you can. Go to yard sales and stuff. Go through your attic, basement, etc. It`s a good way to get started. Craigslist might be good as well.

I also suggest getting another job as quick as you can, because it`ll take some time to build up in whatever you do. Good luck!

I had friends that would go to auctions at mini-warehouses. They auction off the entire contents for very little. They got some great deals that they ebayed or swop shopped.(after they took what ever they wanted for themselves--got some great home furnishings) Most places didn`t want to deal with units that had furniture or bigger items, they would also do lot`s of garage sales with the items.

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"If you`ve got a frog to swallow, don`t look at it too long. And if you`ve got more than one to swallow, swallow the biggest one first"--Danny Cox

Bobo,
Don`t feel bad about your layoff, God Knows how many layoffs I went through before I said the "Hell looking for a job, I have the solution in my hands". Before I started my business I was a process Engineer (wafer coater) I enjoyed making microchips and processors for a living. I was working with MEM`s, and lots of Nano technology inventions. (Silicon Valley)

So after the big Y2K hoax was discovered, they started firing and laying off people like you have no idea. It was so bad, that one of the head bosses jumped out his office window, because he had lost his lavish 300K a year Job.

Around the same time, I returned to college because an AA was not cutting it. So, after finding another temporary job. I somehow ended in the Lock-head Martin B-2 bomber unit. I wasn`t happy because I knew a layoff was just around the corner... and yes they laid me off..

After taking one more lay off, I decided that, that was it! I was going to start a business in something that I had knowledge in and I enjoyed doing. So after depositing my last check into the bank I knew it was now or never.

And I launched my business with a 200.00 dollar budget... It is 5 years later down the road and I am happy. It feels good having that financial freedom. Although, its hard in the begining, you will manage. You might be better off working for yourself.
Forget about E-bay and those wanna be get rich schemes... What you need to do is start a business in something you like....
register the domain name for your business, even if you are not using it now... just park it. Then, start developing a strategy of how you are going to make your business work...


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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Thanks everyone! You`ve all been great. I live in such a small town, the nearist big town is 85 miles away. Finding a better job is almost impossible. I am buying a house here or I would try to move. My little girl would kill me, she really likes her school. I have tried everything on the Internet that doesn`t require alot of money and nothing is working.  Why isn`t there anything that is easy to do anymore. Everything is so technical. I am back in school at 33 years old. One more year and I will graduate. I thought I was making progress, now I feel like a failure again. Thanks, again.

Bobo,

I know exactly where you are coming from and I`ve made a business out of nothing, literally.  Every dollar we made was out of nothing and then we reinvested.

I second the idea of selling somethings online however I disagree with the Ebay idea.  Use craigslist!!!!!  It`s free and you don`t need a book to learn how to use it.  Secondly every purchase made is local so there`s no shipping and you can have people meet you at your house or at a nearby McDonald`s parking lot it doesn`t matter.

Second idea.  Provide a service and market it by going door to door or again on Craigslist.  In the service industry you don`t have to have a talent or have any money.  You just need two legs, two arms, a fair price, and be nicer than the next guy.  The last one isn`t necessary unless you want repeat business.

Heck I have a friend that when door to door with flyers offering her cleaning services.  She would estimate how long it would take her to complete a house by the # of rooms and then give them a quote.  If it took her less time then she got paid the same.  You could do yard work, clean the outside of houses, inside of houses, start a construction site clean up crew, home car detailing service, errand running business, dog walking, etc.  Some of these might take a small investment of materials but that would be covered by your first one or two jobs easy.

I hope that I may have been of some help.  Another thing don`t be skeptical of Craigslist it works.  My business was made off craigslist and I continue to get the majority of my leads from there.

Especially since you live in a small town do things the old fashioned way and hit the street offering your services.  Go door to door.  You will have to have a thick skin because there will a lot of no`s but 1 or 2 yes`s and your business will snowball a good customer base.

Regards,

Sorry to hear about your job, Bob.  What types of skills and/or interests do you have?  Maybe this will be an opportunity to reinvent yourself in a business or career you love.  As they say:  "When one door closes..."

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Debra M. Cohen
Home Remedies of NY®, Inc.
"Dependable, Skilled, Professionals for any Household Task"
Web: www.hrnbiz.com
Email: HomRemdies@aol.com or debra@hrnbiz.com
Tel/Fax: 516-374-8504