So, some easy ones. Obviously flipping. Start what is within the home and not being used. This will give money to hit yard sales, thrift stores, furs markets.
Follow crafting trends. Things like empty bottles, 3D printer purge, ebony cigarette packs all band food on eBay. Even empty paper product rolls. Friends and neighbors usually don’t mind holding them if they are picked up weekly. A lot of this goes in trends, so one month you may do good with it, and then have to wait a few months for it to roll back around.
Look into cottage food regulations in the area. We have one lady here who sells bread out of her house during the week and at low buy in markets.
Does she have a skill that she could teach for money? Even sewing classes. If she can sew, maybe alterations and repairs for people. I use local people doing it on the side. My hands and sewing don’t go together.
Pretty much any skill or hobby can be monetized with some creativity. Some do better than others.
Retail stores and larger market vendors will be looking for seasonal help soon. Last case scenario.
Dark Web Talk
Any ideas for a 68 yo woman who was a stay at home mother?
Started by Keepingourheadsup · Sep 10, 2026
Have her contact her department of aging in her state. They are a free resource and will be able to help her. She is entitled to payments of a portion of her ex’s social security if they are of retirement age and they were married more than ten years.
What exactly am I gloating about?
Just saying this is a real life example of what happens when people don't prepare for their futures.
I for one, do not want to be that person.
I do feel bad, but we all make our own choices. I want to know my future is secure, so I am doing everything in my power to save and invest everything I can muster to put away.
Yes, it can be hard. However, anything is better than nothing. Things can always happen out of your control, but by using what you can control and taking steps towards healthier financial habits can be the difference between retiring or working until you die.
I can't imagine how terrible it would be to get to that age and have no financial security, no one to help me, and potentially not be healthy enough to work. I don't have family so I couldn't possibly imagine. It scares me quite frankly. So yes, I do feel bad. Like I said this should be a reminder to people to start preparing for their future's. Financial literacy should be taught in schools, but instead they rewrite history and teach shit that we never use outside the classroom, but that's another story,
Just saying this is a real life example of what happens when people don't prepare for their futures.
I for one, do not want to be that person.
I do feel bad, but we all make our own choices. I want to know my future is secure, so I am doing everything in my power to save and invest everything I can muster to put away.
Yes, it can be hard. However, anything is better than nothing. Things can always happen out of your control, but by using what you can control and taking steps towards healthier financial habits can be the difference between retiring or working until you die.
I can't imagine how terrible it would be to get to that age and have no financial security, no one to help me, and potentially not be healthy enough to work. I don't have family so I couldn't possibly imagine. It scares me quite frankly. So yes, I do feel bad. Like I said this should be a reminder to people to start preparing for their future's. Financial literacy should be taught in schools, but instead they rewrite history and teach shit that we never use outside the classroom, but that's another story,
My cleaning girl does it. Crafters, escape rooms, and other attractions use them. Go through a lot. More than they can gather. Small dollar, large volume. I use to flip them back in the mid 90’s so I could afford toilet paper 😂 empty cigarette packs went for a bit more.
Empty bottles work. Remove the label. People make lights out of them and little scenery pieces. Liquor bottles work best.
Wine corks also go.
It depends on the month and what the crafting fad is. You have to watch, catch it on the uptick, and swap. People buy 3D printer purge. You can literally sell trash. Again, low dollar sales but made up in high volume. It takes a bit to get use to the cycles. But once you do, it’s not bad money. I did decent with sea glass. Jewelers will buy that, as well as crafters. The larger pieces and more unique colors use to go for quite a bit. Not sure on prices now. I don’t have much luck finding it since I moved to Florida and am on the gulf. You kind of have to hunt it after storms for better luck. And parking will eat any profit. I collected it bc I thought it was pretty. Was filling a jar. Stumbled upon one person selling it, before buy it now was an option. The bidding wars were insane. I listed mine. Sorted by size and color. Made rent one month off of my jar.
Empty bottles work. Remove the label. People make lights out of them and little scenery pieces. Liquor bottles work best.
Wine corks also go.
It depends on the month and what the crafting fad is. You have to watch, catch it on the uptick, and swap. People buy 3D printer purge. You can literally sell trash. Again, low dollar sales but made up in high volume. It takes a bit to get use to the cycles. But once you do, it’s not bad money. I did decent with sea glass. Jewelers will buy that, as well as crafters. The larger pieces and more unique colors use to go for quite a bit. Not sure on prices now. I don’t have much luck finding it since I moved to Florida and am on the gulf. You kind of have to hunt it after storms for better luck. And parking will eat any profit. I collected it bc I thought it was pretty. Was filling a jar. Stumbled upon one person selling it, before buy it now was an option. The bidding wars were insane. I listed mine. Sorted by size and color. Made rent one month off of my jar.
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What are her
• hobbies
• full time job
• interests
Can she ask for overtime?
Provide Weekend Babysitting?
Tutor?
Bake Cakes or Bread?
There are a few ladies on my Nextdoor app that bake cakes. They don’t have to be fancy. One in particular sells out everyday. Families love a good treat for a special way to top off a meal. I do my best to support locals. A little background info would help. On another note, she could reduce her grocery bills by going to a food bank, joining a Mutual Aid group, volunteering at the food bank (volunteers get opportunities for free food), we have a lot of local churches that get food donations & they give it all away to anyone who shows up. It doesn’t matter if you have a full time job.
Others have made good suggestions for Social Security, that sound hopeful.
All my best to your friend. See if you can give us a few more details.
• hobbies
• full time job
• interests
Can she ask for overtime?
Provide Weekend Babysitting?
Tutor?
Bake Cakes or Bread?
There are a few ladies on my Nextdoor app that bake cakes. They don’t have to be fancy. One in particular sells out everyday. Families love a good treat for a special way to top off a meal. I do my best to support locals. A little background info would help. On another note, she could reduce her grocery bills by going to a food bank, joining a Mutual Aid group, volunteering at the food bank (volunteers get opportunities for free food), we have a lot of local churches that get food donations & they give it all away to anyone who shows up. It doesn’t matter if you have a full time job.
Others have made good suggestions for Social Security, that sound hopeful.
All my best to your friend. See if you can give us a few more details.
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