Looking for practical ways to earn some extra cash? Something you can start part-time, without quitting your present job or spending a fortune? Check out the following ideas and see if any of them captures your interest.

1. Garage cleaning: Most garages need cleaning or complete overhaul. It is a task that many people will gladly pay someone else to do for them. That someone else can be you. Offer your services to home owners, especially in medium to high income brackets.

2. Commercial cleaning: Residential or business/office cleaning is in demand, and some people are cashing in and making nice incomes. Offer businesses and/or upper income residents to do their office/home cleaning work. You choose to be paid room, squire foot or hourly. You can also do post-construction clean-up, clearing debris off construction sites.

3. Concierge/Corporate Concierge: Help with tasks like picking up dry cleaning, returning videos, finding limousine services, event planning, taking cars for oil change etc.

4. Child Day Care: A child day care in your home if you have a basement or extra room/space. You need to purchase small chairs and tables, games, toys, and outdoor play items. Prices vary with area or neighborhood. Most states require a license and some training, especially First Aid and Child CPR.

5. Information Abstractor: You sum up an article into a paragraph or two, without loosing the essence. You have to be fast and knowledgeable in your chosen field.

6. Errand Service: You charge hourly to perform a wide variety of errands for clients. Busy moms, single parents, executives and seniors are good targets. 7. Web Writer: Track down articles on certain subjects. A genuine interest or knowledge in the subject helps a great deal here. You put the pieces together to make one tasty and satisfying snack.

8. Relocation Consultant/Specialist: Your work is to help new people moving into a city find a home/apartment, job,

9. Perfumer: Play around with different combos of essences until you come up with a fragrance that's pleasant and unique.

10. Personal Shopper: Not to be mistaken with Mystery Shopper (see #11 below). Your job is to shop for busy executives. You charge hourly, and might include gift wrapping.

11. Mystery/Secret Shopper: Your "work" is to pose as a customer and shop at department stores or malls. You report back to the company about service, cleanliness etc. You get paid hourly or by gift certificates, and in most cases you keep your purchases.

12. Personal Chef: Requires great culinary skills or you be a trained chef. As a personal chef, your work is to create and prepare great-tasting customized meals for (high-income) individuals and families.

13. Bed & Breakfast: You need an extra room or two that you can rent out. You don't need an extra bath but highly recommended. Best around tourist attractions. Breakfast can be simply coffee and/or juice and a bowl of cereal.

14. Computer Tutor: If you have a knack for working with computers you can earn some extra cash helping newbies to learn how to operate systems.

15. Export Agent: Learn the basics of exporting (the better if you've worked with exporting firms). Offer exporting services to small and medium companies/manufacturers for a commission.

16. Resume Writer: Many people find resume writing scary and would gladly pay someone else to do it for them. You can make a full-time living in Resume writing- some resume writers make six-figure incomes!

David Kamau owns http://mercantilecentral.com which specializes in work at home and self-improvement. For helpful links on some of the ideas in this article, see reprint on author's website at: http://mercantilecentral.com/work_at_home_ideas_tips.htm. This article will never be complete and shall continue to be updated, so please visit our site often.

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