I have been reading a lot of articles and hearing news about how bad things are and how people are out of work. I too recently lost one of my 3 jobs. Well I decided to take up dog walking back in January. I am a known member of my community so finding a few clients was not terribly hard.

End of January, I used some of the money I made to place an online ad in our community forum and post fliers in town where I was permitted to. By May I had picked up so many clients in my neighborhood, that I literally had to turn down people. I charge a reasonable fee compared to all the competitors in my area. After all this is my neighborhood, so very little driving (if any) is needed.

I have since lost my second job due to it's closing and have been able to take in more clients. This has now turned into house sitting as well. Instead of boarding their pets I stay and take care of the pet, take in mail etc.

If you are a small community person and looking to try something different, give this a go. There is hardly any costs or overhead and it's great exercise. I have recently discontinued ads since word of mouth is doing just fine.
I am making more CASH than I was with all 3 part time jobs now.

Good luck and I hope everyone is well.

Good for you! I've been saying for months now that people are only unemployed because they're too lazy to get off their behinds and get off the couch. Even volunteer work would be better than sitting at home doing nothing.

Welfare for three years (when it should be six months) is NOT the answer - people like you making their own opportunities is the answer. Well Done Star and Flag.

Good for you and your ingenuity! And to top it all off, you get to play with animals, and be outside in nature! With today's economy, jobs like you have and "handyman" jobs will become more the norm, I believe. I know someone who has created their own business cooking and delivering meals for shut-ins. She loves it, feels as if she is contributing to society, and has turned this into quite the lucrative business for herself. She saw a need, acted upon it, and was able to quit her full time office job.

Thanks for the replies. I hope this inspires some. I thought of this as supplemental income and never thought that it would have turned into what it has. I am very thankful, especially since rent was becoming an up hill battle along with energy bills etc.

Yeah, the animals make it a plus too. I can't have dogs in my apartment so now I have 30 or so furry friends who help make my day so amazing.

Congratulations on your thinking outside of the box. It's refreshing to read how people save themselves when faced with imminent unemployment.

Good for you! My sister in law made so much money with her pet sitting/walking jobs she was able to pull herself out of debt.

Originally posted by Thunder heart woman
Good for you! My sister in law made so much money with her pet sitting/walking jobs she was able to pull herself out of debt.

Glad to hear. I didn't quite notice the impact till last week. My bank account is maintaining a good positive amount. I was getting used to making enough to cover my rent check with $100 left if I was lucky. Hope your sister in laws is successful and you too.

It's good 'ol intelligent innovation like yours that makes me proud of the human species (actually, these last few years the only thing I've found to find pride in). Thanks for your encouraging post!

Well I'm constantly walking around all day long, so I guess I might as well give it a go.

Just wait till your door gets kicked in and you go to jail for not having a business license.
your pretty much a terrorist the way i see it, tax evasion, no licenses... etc.
freakin criminals make me sick.

/sarcasm

good on you, stickin it to the man.
lets see them outsource dog walkers, they cant!!

Let's just hope no legislation is passed that makes dog walking an act of terror.

Kudos to you for making something out of nothing though, inspiring story.

Originally posted by jdb51
She saw a need, acted upon it, and was able to quit her full time office job.

Indeed. Great enterprising people think like that. There WILL always be a market for something. You just have to find out what that something is and suck in the dough.