Self Employed Folks Can Make Ends Meet in a Slow Economy, it Just Takes Creative Strategies

Many self employed people are struggling to stay solvent in this recession, but with some creative strategies you can make it through with minimal or even no negative impact to your credit or to your savings.

There are so many small ways to earn extra cash if you have the drive to try new things in order to succeed. As a self employed handyman with a wide variety of skills, I find that it is really easy to stay busy. However I also find that the trick is to stay as productive as possible, while attempting to earn the level of income which is required for making my monthly bills. This can be done with as few as 10-17 clients that you are constantly doing small jobs for. Then you need to make the time to try and open communications with at least 3-4 new clients per month, this way as you finish up with one or two clients there will be new ones that are getting ready to utilize your talents.

It is really easy to blindly say yes to everything that comes your way, especially when there is less money in your bank account than it would take to pay a parking ticket. It is smarter to take a minute to consider your other commitments, and possibly say no to the new jobs until your schedule clears up a little. Since a lot of my self employed handyman work is brought to me via word of mouth it is imperative that my clients are pleased when a job is finished.

If you think that the self employed handyman thing suits your skills and lifestyle, then you will need to have a schedule that works for each of your customers, and that also fits your personal needs as well. You need to make time for paperwork, and phone calls, as well as having face to face visits with your client base. If the time is not available for either you or the client, then emails and or text messages will do if you are in a tight spot. Be honest in your estimate of when you can get to the work, as this gives your clients time to find alternatives to your services as needed.

Some of the more creative methods of making extra cash have included taking on many smaller tasks, which can often lead to larger projects with the same client. Saying no to a customers request must be thoroughly justifiable in order for me to even consider that as an option. I am always looking for little detail jobs where i can get my foot in the door. Once they see that I can follow through and will stay with a project until it is done like a terrier would, then my position is usually fairly safe with that client. Mistakes can still happen, and there are times when it is best to end a business relationship before further damage is caused.

Currently I have four main project resources and small incomes from each, first is writing as a featured contributor for Associated Content - Yahoo!, second I buy and resell collectibles from various sources, and I then resell these and other items on my ebay store. Third avenue is where I buy used equipment like boat motors, broken cars, computers, and small power equipment like chain saws. These I fix up and repair and then I sell them through eBay, newspaper ads, or directly to people I meet who are in need of the items I have. And finally I have been bartering my services and goods for quite a long time now. Some of my most incredible barters include funeral services in trade for a water treatment system, sweat equity in a small company i used to own, labor for a friend in trade for a car that i am currently fixing for resale, and many other "my labor for your goods" trades.

Of all the tricks I have learned over the years of being self employed, the bartering has been by far the most successful and rewarding method that I have found for making extra money when it is needed. I have also been quite successful at finding things at stores, auctions, and garage sales which have made me plenty of extra cash over the years. What works the best for me seems to be doing a lot of research before I take on a new task, and also when I am shopping something for resale.

There are still other ways that people can create new income for themselves, providing they do not mind putting in some sweat equity. For example what if you always wanted to learn how to make stained glass, or that glass blowing thing really excites you? Well the best way to get into these while you are staying solvent via your regular job, is that you can always take classes to learn the ropes first. Then once you have some basic knowledge yo can begin connecting with people in the industry. You would do this by going to trade shows, and by visiting the various shops in your area to see how the people are doing the things that you want to be doing!

Even with a sagging economy we can still create our own business opportunities, all it takes is a plan of action, and some follow through. Lets say you are not really 100% happy in the job that you are in now, you could go out and find a part time job in the field you feel would be more suitable for your personality, and then eventually parlay that into a full time job in the field you love!

What most people are reluctant to do is to think outside the box, and then make the necessary steps to actually move outside the box! These imaginary boxes are just something we build for our own personal amusement and comfort. Making a change like this can be so extremely liberating! at one point or another every entrepreneur or self employed person has that big aha! moment where they realize the hard work is starting to pay off, and the satisfaction of knowing you can do it all on your own is an amazing feeling. To me it is almost as powerful as the adrenaline rush you get from doing something truly dangerous.

So what can the average person do to open more doors like I have? First ask a lot of questions of everyone you come into contact with. Secondly, make sure you get names, email, and phone numbers of contacts which you feel may be helpful to you in the future. I always want to think about how any situation can be a win win for everyone involved. If you know some specific thing about the world that someone else may not know, then you can share that with them in trade for the skills and knowledge which they possess.

This is a very simple path, and is one that rewards your hard work and efforts each and every day!

Thank you for reading my articles here on Associated Content - Yahoo!