In a tough economy many people discover that they have a need for more cash. Perhaps they have lost their job or have a family member who has lost their job. Or their job has cut back their hours or they have not been given a raise they were expecting. Fortunately there are some easy ways to make money – even in a tough economy.

Tip #1: Sell at online auctions. Experts estimate that most of us have thousands of dollars worth of items that we just don’t use. Why not put them to work for you and sell them at online auction websites? A popular site many sell items is eBay but there are quite a few other online auction websites today. You can sell many items — even cars and unusual items at an online auction.

Tip #2: Become a tutor or teach adult education. Just about everyone knows something they could teach other people how to do. In a tight economy, people are looking to improve their skills. This is an ideal time to tutor or teach adult education. You could tutor young students or teach adult continuing education with a college degree and knowledge of your subject. This can be a fun experience and tutors and teachers are often well paid for their experience.

Tip #3: Look to temping or freelance work. While many full-time or staff positions are cut, temp positions and freelancers become more and more popular in a tight economy. If you have strong skills, you could be very much in demand. This could be an ideal way to make money during this time.

Tip #4: Consider the service industry. Many people have found bartending or waitressing to be a very successful way to earn additional income. The bars are often still full when the economy is down as people want to gather together and commiserate about their circumstances. Many restaurants take on additional help during holiday time.

Tip #5: Try housesitting or petsitting. Busy executives are often looking for someone to housesit or petsit for them while they are on a business trip. If you are responsible, well organized and know how to take care of a home or a pet this could be a great opportunity for you. It is most practical to look for positions in your own community as you’ll often need to check on both the home or the pet several times a day.