This looks to be another challenging year for your family budget with double digit unemployment, smaller bonuses (unless you are on Wall Street!) and tight budgets that mean many of us may face a pay freeze or pay cut rather than a pay raise!

If you are looking to make a few extra bucks this year, don't be fooled by work at home scams. Here are five ideas for legitimate ways you can earn extra money.

Become a Tutor or Give Private Lessons

Ask yourself, what talents do you have that others may want to pay for? Use your special skill to make some extra money giving lessons or becoming a tutor.

Do you play an instrument? Do you speak a second language? Are you good at needlepoint, golf, flower arranging, carpentry, photography, etc.?

Also, if you are an expert in such topics as chemistry, math, history, English, there are always parents out there looking for good tutors for their children.

Place an ad in your local paper, post a notice at your church, in local coffee shops and tell your neighbors. You can also contact your local schools and community colleges to offer your services. 

Make Money in the Kitchen

Daria is a fabulous cook. If I was willing to share her, she could turn that passion into extra money.

As families tightened their budgets, eating out was one of the first luxuries to go. If you are you talented in the kitchen, there are several ways you can turn this trend into extra income.

Good at preparing yummy meals quickly and on a budget? Show others how you do it! You can teach a cooking class in your home or the person you are teaching. You can target newlyweds by promoting your cooking class to wedding planners, womens' networking organizations, florists and bridal stores.

There will always be folks who don't like to cook or don't have the time, so another way to make money from your finesse in the kitchen is to become a personal chef and cook for others.

Finally, we know several people who make some extra dough by baking and decorating cakes and cupcakes for birthday parties, anniversaries, etc.

Put Your Web and Computer Skills to Use

If you know your way around a computer, there are definitely opportunities to make some extra money by helping businesses and organizations who aren't computer savvy. One of the best opportunities is in desktop publishing and web design.

Every small business owner knows that they either need a website or a better
website, but many are too busy to do it themselves or don't have the skills. And most don't have big budgets so hiring a professional designer or agency isn't an option.

Contact local business owners and see if they need help. You can also offer your services to local organizations that need to get things done on small budgets-churches, sports clubs, etc.

Become an Online Selling Specialist

When you think about it, everyone has something to sell on E-bay (checked the attic lately?). But many people--including us--have no idea how to buy and sell things online using E-Bay, Craig's List, etc. And many of us don't have the time or the desire to learn!

That's where you come in. Tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers and so on that you will help them turn their unwanted and unused stuff into cold hard cash. All they have to do is give you the item and pay you a flat fee for posting small items and commission (a percentage of the selling price) on bigger ticket items.

There are plenty of ways you earn a few extra bucks these days. So be creative in your thinking and get going!

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