Creative Ways to Make Extra Money: Selling the Treasures Right Under Your Nose

Who doesn't want to make extra money? Whether it's to make ends meet, to save up for a car or a vacation, or to take more vacations, nobody wouldn't turn down the opportunity to acquire more cash. And those who are especially desperate may try everything under the sun. However, sometimes the answer to your money problems is so simple it could be lying under your feet. By the time you finish reading this, you'll have some ideas that you can use to make money (if you have access to these items) or get your brain pumping with ideas to find not-so-hidden treasures under your own feet.

Pine Needles/Pine Cones

Do you live near a lot of pine trees? Gather up the needles and cones and sell them as pieces for crafts projects. You can sell them at craft shows, flea markets, or on eBay. Craftsmen and women are always on the lookout for raw materials they can use for their projects, and you can be the one to provide what they need.

Alternatively, and for a little extra cash, you can creatively decorate the cones and sell them as Christmas ornaments or even Halloween party decorations. I've even heard of one person who glued glass eyes on the cones and sold them as owls! To take this idea even further, if you can come up with several creative ways to decorate pine cones, you can sell that information to others and sell all the ingredients in a kit to specific market (like parents whose kids like to do craft projects).

Colorful Rocks/Big Rocks

If you live near a beach, you may be able to find some different colored rocks along the shore. You could sell these to people who are looking to give their fish aquariums a little more color decoration. If you can't find different colored rocks, then maybe you can collect some big rocks, decorate them with a nice image or quote with paint, and sell them as paperweights.

Organically Grown Plants/Vegetables

If you're a gardener, why not use your talents to make some extra money? You can sell your organic plants and/or produce at flea markets, through eBay or Craigslist, or through classifieds and other local advertising. Even if you don't want to do this, you have some knowledge that others would be interested in so write a self-published book filled with your tips and how-tos or put them up on a website to get ad or affiliate revenue.

Bird Feathers

I once heard a story of someone who was struggling to find something to sell on eBay. Then one day, she noticed a whole bunch of feathers that birds had left on her property. Inspired by that, she put up some feathers for auction just to see what would happen. Well what happened was they became her most consistent and successful product.

Do birds like to leave this "gift" on your property too? Sell it! There might be a few reasons why someone would be interested in bird feathers, such as: using them in crafts projects, in clothing items, or having something from a region of the world that's exotic to them.

Start thinking about the kinds of creative ways you can sell things, and the hidden treasures underneath your nose you can find to make extra money. You never know what kinds of desires that others have that you'll uncover unless you take the chance.