Depression Era Jobs to Make Extra Money

Here are some simple ways to make extra money for yourself or your family that many people used during the depression era.

During the depression era, people had to get creative when it came to supporting their families. Much like today, the families in the depression era were struggling to make ends meet. This meant that they often had one or no income. Women and men would do side jobs in order to bring in money using their time and talents. The good news is that many of the things families did then to make some side cash can still be done today. These Depression Era Jobs to Make Extra Money can give you a bit of extra cash to go around.

Depression Era Jobs to Make Extra Money

Babysitting- This is a classic way to make money on the side for teens through grandparents. In most states, you don’t need a license unless you will be watching more than a few kids. However, some states put limits on how many unrelated kids you can watch and how many under the age of 2 you can watch at any given time. Check with the laws in your state. If you will just be watching a couple of kids on a regular basis, this could be a great way to bring in some extra cash.

Mending Clothes- This is a talent that is almost forgotten in our throw away world. If you have the ability and talent to alter or mend clothing, you could be doing well. Many people have expensive items they don’t want to throw out or formal wear that needs hemming. Advertise your services on places like Craigslist or your local paper.

Selling Unwanted Items- For most people, this is one of the first things they do when they need money. You would be surprised at how much you probably have at home that is no longer needed. If you build up some regular customers, you may even be able to find things they are looking for and sell it to them to make extra cash. Just don’t go buying more than you can sell or you might end up spending more than you make.

Tutor Children- Are you a math wiz? Can you play the piano beautifully? In most states, you don’t need to have any special training or license to tutor children in subjects. This can be something great for college students to do on the side especially if they are going into education as a career.

Clean Homes- Everyone is so busy these days and having a housekeeper is something many people could budget for. You can make several hundred dollars with just a few hours that you have to spare each month. You may even be able to get some regular work doing move outs with apartment complexes or with offices who need occasional deep cleaning. This is one job you will want to be bonded, licensed, and insured for to protect yourself. This generally doesn’t cost much to do.

Garden for Cash- If you have a knack for gardening and a large enough space to do it, you could garden for money. Do this by selling your harvest at local farmer’s markets or a roadside stand.

Run Errands- Many people don’t have time to run all of their errands they need to get done. Other people are home bound and can’t do it. You could act as an errand runner for these people and make a little money on the side. You could offer grocery shopping services, too!