Money is nearby: you can find it

Dear readers and job-seekers, We're told the Recession is over, but it seems to me that lots of people still need cash. I've found some ways that people are making money locally.

Scrip - Some local communities printing their own money (true!), sometimes 95 cents on the dollar: Detroit, MI Cheers, Ithaca Hours in NY, Plenty in NC, or BerkShares in MA. Local money may not resemble federal bills or be promoted as legal tender of the United States!

Microloans, or microcredit - Very small loans to those in poverty with little or no collateral. It's a way to get a cottage industry going.

Start blogging. Yes, it's terrifying, but a blog (Web log) like this one gets the word out about what you're doing. You don't need a designer, or knowledge of code. All you need is a willingness to tell people what services you can offer. Don't have a computer? Your library probably does.

Need to learn about accounting? Let Stan Snyder help.

Sell stuff - How about selling the cool stuff you have in that storage facility? Then you don't have to pay for storage anymore. Enjoy buying and selling? Have a weekly yard sale with small things people need. Get started here. (If it's long enough, you can sell your hair).

Connect with your community - Being out of work is isolating and lonely. I've been there, dear reader. Online communities need your skills, talents, and ambitions. Start chatting, asking questions, and let folks know what you can do.

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.  - Barack Obama, President of the United States