Times are tough in this economic recession and sometimes a job isn’t enough, so people are looking for quick ways to earn extra cash.

Selling stuff

There is always eBay. “eBay is the world’s online Marketplace,” the website states. “A place for buyers and sellers to come together and trade almost anything.”

Here’s how it works: A seller lists an item on eBay; it could be anything. Any member can bid on it and the highest bidder wins. Items for sale are very eclectic; they can be anything from bellybutton lint to used Hummers. Those pressed for cash can utilize this marketplace to sell old junk which could be the next man’s treasure.

“My job pays for necessities, food, gas and stuff like that. So if I want to do entertaining things I get the money by selling some of my vast amounts of video games…”

Others in need of cash may sell used movies and games to GameStop or Hastings. GameStop is a store in Prescott Gateway Mall and Hasting is located off of Willow Creek Rd. They both buy and sell used games and DVDs.

Trade-ins

“If we don’t have good deals on trade-ins, people want cash; it’s all kinds of people [who trade], young kids, college students, moms,” says a GameStop employee. Sometimes temptation is too much though. “I don’t even sell my games. My friends and I just get credit cards and max them out,” he says.

Jacob Harrison, 22, carries a grocery bag full of video games when walking into Gamestop. “I don’t play them anymore, so I figured I would either get new ones, or get something else recreational.”

Harrison uses this extra cash to line his pockets. “My job pays for necessities, food, gas and stuff like that. So if I want to do entertaining things I get the money by selling some of my vast amounts of video games, either by trading them in here, or selling them on eBay,” he says.

Harrison has also used pawn shops in the past. “I traded my Nintendo to get a Super Nintendo when I was younger, at the Pawn Shop on Sheldon Street,” he says.

Consignments

Libby Cedar, 27, sells clothes. “They aren’t worth much but I have so many. I know I should donate them, but sometimes I need gas for my car,” says Cedar. Her clothes are on consignment, which means she puts the clothes in the store owned by someone else and then is paid a portion of the sale price when the clothing sells. According to Cedar, she doesn’t get paid until the clothes sell.

Blood and body parts

So what about people that don’t have extra video games or clothes? Some people sell blood plasma. Steve Darb from Prescott say, “I feel a little run down afterwards but it’s like forty bucks cash every four or six weeks. And I need the money since my hours got cut at work.”
According to Darb, he received a physical in the first session which took about an hour. “It was worth it because next time, I left with cash in hand. I wish I could sell more often. It seems like I am always strapped for cash.”

If you’re in the business of selling parts of your body for money, selling hair can pay up to $10 an ounce according to AOL Health. The hair cannot be chemically treated and smokers cannot sell hair. But if you qualify, hair can be sold online at thehairtrader.com.

Son of Cash for Clunkers

Recently, there was the government “Cash For Clunkers” program. This program states that American’s old trucks or other vehicles were eligible for a government rebate which can go towards a new vehicle.

This bill was passed to help get low MPG cars off the road according to whatiscashforclunkers.com.

The program would voucher up to $4,500 towards the purchase of a more fuel efficient vehicle. The program started processing claims July 24 and the program ended August 24.
Programs such as “Son of Cash for Clunkers” and other government generated stimulus are offering relief daily. For those without access to clunkers, there are always these other methods.