I need to make another 8-10 hours a week.

[Doug]

Or $200 a month which works out to $50 a week. I need suggestions. The house that I posted about earlier looks like we will get it. My work has cut my hours to 20 hours a week, and getting overtime is about 10x as difficult since they moved many people off the weekend shift.

I can still pay all my bills and my part of the mortgage with the hours I am getting but I won't be able to save for a rainy day.

What I am good at:

Computers: I can install and update software, remove spyware and adware, set up and secure basic wireless networks, recommend hardware and software. I can also recommend and do research on electronic gadgets. I can teach basic computer operation, how to connect to the internet and basic applications, basic troubleshooting.

Basic labor skills. I know how to paint fences.

I am good with organizing rooms and garages.

I am a pretty good driver, no accidents or tickets save for the time I hit that pole which was my fault, clean driving record. Someone sent me an email about becoming a driving courier, but seems nobody wants to do it part time. I was thinking about starting my own company and driving part time on Sundays, I don't think there are too many places that pick up and deliver on Sundays.

I am also entertaining starting my own business, exactly what I don't know.

I am very optimistic about all of this, God will supply a way.

[Bravus]

I've contemplated starting a computer support business, but I already make enough money and work hard enough that it would be taking time from the family. You sound like you're the other way around, so it would be perfect. I'm always astonished by how many peope end up paying hundreds for computer shops to remove viruses and spyware and install hardware and software, or else just put up with them and have slow computers. I'm amazed by people who've had Windows for months or years and still have the silly icons that Microsoft installs by default on the desktop. And so on. If you can have real integrity, and really help people by (a) doing stuff for them and ( giving them the tools and skills to do some of it for themselves, if they're interested (versus not skilling them up to preserve work for yourself), I think you could build a nice little earner. Might need to do some advertising in local stores and build it up by word of mouth, but to me there's an immense unmet need out there in terms of basic tech support. You could even offer a free diagnostic service, then just quote on the things that would make their computer(s) faster and more efficient and secure.

All the best with it.

[Key Guy]

Doug,

First stick with your passions. Work will never seem like work when you are doing what you love.

I have found the toughest part of any business, should you decide to start one (and you should), is the marketing... getting the word out to the most people with the least amount of money.

I have followed the Japanese approach, as I understand it; slow and deliberate steps. It takes longer to launch and be successful, but it works! Take the time to establish the correct foundations of establishing the best suppliers, accounting methods, tools, training and techniques. These are basic first steps, but if done right, you won't have to go back and undo the wrong stuff later... too costly.

[Liz]

You could always do pizza delivery, I think they tend to work around people's schedules. This would give you some extra cash until something else came along, or started your business and got it off the ground. There is also a delivery type service for medical facilities (* I can't remember what it is called), I see these people all the time, you would probably just have to make some inquiries around the hospitals.

*I have insomniac brain and can't think straight.

[Woody]

Doug ... I am plumb out of ideas for you. But I will pray.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Doug, I think you have some good ideas up above here. The computer idea sounds best to me, but you'd have to set up a place to do the work, do the advertising, etc, as Bravus mentioned.

Good luck! Praying for you too!

[Kountzer]

I am in a similar dilema. I have a full time job, and I usually work parttime for about 15 hours a week. The parttime work I've been doing is delivering pizzas. Yes I have worked as a pizza delievery person. Which is another reason I do not like my shift change at my full time job. If I get off at 7:30 or 8pm at night, it is hard to work delivering pizzas or anything else. Then you have the sabbath issue. Pizza places make most of their money on friday night and saturdays.

Not only that, but there is an abundance of pizza drivers these days. With high unemployment and relatively low gas prices, all the driver jobs are nearly dried up.

[Key Guy]

Doug,

Whatever you find to do that's not directly related to your end goals, choose work that can help you reach your goals.

Some Ideas:

> Choose a 'people' job that gets you in front of potential customers. Carry tons of business cards (not cheap computer printed ones, professional ones. www.iprint.com)

> Never stop promoting yourself. Be observant, ask questions that will lead to promoting your business.

> Pray for guidance and ask that opportunity doors swing wide. I do because I'm not that sensitive to cracked-open doors.

> Even if you mop floors, present your appearance and deportment with professionalism. Remember, you are always selling yourself.

> Hook up with a trade association if available. Local is better. Learn from the ones that were there before you. Get involved, volunteer to take an office or do a project... it scores points.

> On a related note, get more involved with your community: EMS, Fire, Lions Club, Rotary. More of your neighbors will get to know you and your services.

> Develop a website and invite everyone to it. It's the cheapest and most effective advertisement there is.