Monday February 8, 2010

How to Make Quick Money in the Twin Cities Guide

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Are you flat broke? Are you trying to save enough for that vintage five-speed Schwinn or a trip to Fargo? Here are some ways to earn a little extra spending money in the Twin Cities.

Focus Groups

Marketers and researchers want your opinion! Taste new alcoholic beverages, watch pilot episodes of a new show, or look at a brochure.

Simply sign-up for multiple research groups, and you will get called every 3-4 weeks. Most focus groups pay between $60-$200 for a couple hours of your time.

Fieldwork Minneapolis: Located in Edina, they are the best group in town. They will always keep you busy!

Also, check weekly on craigslist.org under marketing.

Promotions

Are you young, outgoing and can fake a smile for two hours? Big companies will pay you big bucks to hand out free gum, pop tarts or beer at a liquor store. Most promotions run around $15-$25 an hour, and are very easy. The promotions are not during your normal work hours, so you can make extra pocket cash.

Craigslist is the best resource for scooping up promotions. Check under marketing and PR for the latest.

Make sure to have a good picture of yourself and updated resume. It is that easy!

You can also register with the following agencies for work:

Look for "talent sign-up" on the page.

Get stuff and sell it on eBay or Craigslist.

This is pretty simple. Take stuff you already have and sell it to someone else. How do you get the stuff? You can win it. There are tons of prizes out there to be won, and you probably are not winning any of them. Even though you may not want to go to the Spice Girls reunion tour, someone out there does. Sign up for every contest in town, and you will win something. Create a spam email address and use it for the sole purpose of winning contests.

Check www.twincities.com, www.startribune.com, www.lavender.com, www.citypages.com, or www.therake.com and look for current promotions. Check weekly, and you are bound to win something! Once you have your product, sell it to someone who wants it!

Or, you can search your apartment/home/rented room/whatever for stuff you own that you don't want anymore. Or for stuff that you still want, but perhaps want less than you want money. Sell that stuff.

Please don't steal stuff to sell. The key point here is selling your stuff.

Also, www.amazon.com makes it very easy to sell your books (and other items). Find the "Sell your stuff" link on the left menu. Enter ISBN, UPC, or ASIN and after a few clicks you'll be set up to sell.

Temping

Yes, you can live your dream of being an office monkey. If you have any free time, register at a variety of temp agencies. When you are off for a week, give the agency a call and you are on the job. You will get anywhere between $11-$17/hr per job. The majority of the jobs are simple and just require you to pick up the phone.

www.randstad.com - The best temp firm in the Twin Cities.
www.manpower.com- More dirty work (call centers, yuck.)
www.accountemps.com (if you know anything about finance)

Practice your Excel and Word before you go to your interview!

Nanny/Yard work/Tutor/Dance

Again, whatever you do well, someone will need your services. Make flyers and post your talents in the rich neighborhoods and suburbs. Also, post an ad on craigslist advertising your talents. You set your hours and your rate.

Last week I gave Indian cooking lessons to a couple in Edina ... it is that easy! Just sell yourself!

Are you flat broke? Are you trying to save enough for that vintage five-speed Schwinn or a trip to Fargo? Here are some ways to earn a little extra spending money in the Twin Cities.<br /><br /><h2>Focus Groups</h2><strong>Marketers and researchers want your opinion!</strong> Taste new alcoholic beverages, watch pilot episodes of a new show, or look at a brochure.<br /><br />Simply sign-up for multiple research groups, and you will get called every 3-4 weeks. Most focus groups pay between $60-$200 for a couple hours of your time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fieldwork.com/"><strong>Fieldwork Minneapolis:</strong></a> Located in Edina, they are the best group in town. They will always keep you busy!<br /><br /><strong>Also, check weekly on craigslist.org under marketing.</strong><h2>Promotions</h2>Are you young, outgoing and can fake a smile for two hours? Big companies will pay you big bucks to hand out free gum, pop tarts or beer at a liquor store. Most promotions run around $15-$25 an hour, and are very easy. The promotions are not during your normal work hours, so you can make extra pocket cash.<br /><br />Craigslist is the best resource for scooping up promotions. Check under marketing and PR for the latest. <br /><br />Make sure to have a good picture of yourself and updated resume. It is that easy!<br /><br />You can also register with the following agencies for work:<ul><li><a href="http://www.gcmarketingservices.com/">http://www.gcmarketingservices.com/</a></li><li><a href="http://www.encorenationwide.com">www.encorenationwide.com</a></li></ul>Look for "talent sign-up" on the page.<br /><br /><h2>Get stuff and sell it on eBay or Craigslist.</h2>This is pretty simple. Take stuff you already have and sell it to someone else. How do you get the stuff? You can win it. There are tons of prizes out there to be won, and you probably are not winning any of them. Even though you may not want to go to the Spice Girls reunion tour, someone out there does. Sign up for every contest in town, and you will win something. Create a spam email address and use it for the sole purpose of winning contests.<br /><br />Check <a href="http://www.twincities.com">www.twincities.com</a>, <a href="http://www.startribune.com">www.startribune.com</a>, <a href="http://www.lavender.com">www.lavender.com</a>, <a href="http://www.citypages.com">www.citypages.com</a>, or <a href="http://www.therake.com">www.therake.com</a> and look for current promotions. Check weekly, and you are bound to win something!&nbsp; Once you have your product, sell it to someone who wants it!<br /><br />Or, you can search your apartment/home/rented room/whatever for stuff you own that you don't want anymore. Or for stuff that you still want, but perhaps want less than you want money. Sell that stuff.<br /><br />Please don't steal stuff to sell. The key point here is selling <em>your</em> stuff.<br /><br />Also, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller/sell-your-stuff.html/ref=gw_br_sell/002-7219413-4012028">www.amazon.com</a>&nbsp; makes it very easy to sell your books (and other&nbsp; items).&nbsp; Find the "Sell your stuff" link on the left menu. Enter ISBN, UPC, or ASIN and after a few clicks you'll be set up to sell.<br /><h2>Temping</h2>Yes, you can live your dream of being an office monkey. If you have any free time, register at a variety of temp agencies. When you are off for a week, give the agency a call and you are on the job. You will get anywhere between $11-$17/hr per job. The majority of the jobs are simple and just require you to pick up the phone.<ul><li>www.randstad.com - The best temp firm in the Twin Cities.</li><li><a href="http://www.manpower.com">www.manpower.com</a>- More dirty work (call centers, yuck.)</li><li><a href="http://www.accountemps.com">www.accountemps.com</a> (if you know anything about finance)</li></ul>Practice your Excel and Word before you go to your interview!<br /><br /><h2>Nanny/Yard work/Tutor/Dance</h2>Again, whatever you do well, someone will need your services. Make flyers and post your talents in the rich neighborhoods and suburbs. Also, post an ad on craigslist advertising your talents. You set your hours and your rate. <br /><br />Last week I gave Indian cooking lessons to a couple in Edina ... it is that easy! Just sell yourself!

created by chadmaxwell on Jul. 2, '07 at 1:44 PM
last updated by paulinobrener on Jul. 28, '07 at 2:46 PM

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Comments

posted by kurt0104 on Jul. 31, '07 at 10:11 AM

Excellent guide! I took your advice and signed up for some contests on City Pages. I won tickets to 10,000 Lakes Festival and sold them on craigslist for $150.

posted by alexism on Aug. 14, '07 at 12:45 PM

That's pretty cool.!

posted by thejackal on Aug. 24, '07 at 10:29 AM

I got a call to be in a Focus Group for Rum and told me to invite all the friends I could. The sweet part is they're holding it on a Friday Night.

So tonight three friends and I getting paid $30 each to get drunk at the Embassy Suites in Downtown St. Paul, and a fourth friend makes $10 a head for driving us. Awesome.

posted by davidnorell on Aug. 30, '07 at 4:30 PM