My banker called me. I almost dropped my phone! He wasn't exactly friendly to me. He said I had repeatedly overdrawn my account and now his patience had run out. I would still get it in writing.

So a very clear message for me: How can I make money?
My first thought was right away: I need a side job! But somewhere in retail or in a casino arcade I really had no desire to work! I need something that lets me fill my wallet more easily.
I called Kati, my friend. She always has good ideas. Kati works at an advertising agency and is in charge of new slogans. "Kati, how can I make money?" She laughed out loud into the phone and said: "Ever thought about working?"

The Idea Factory Is Open

Kati gave me the tip to just sit down and write out my ideas. Then cross everything down to a shortlist and get started.

  • Copywriting
  • Selling clothes
  • Babysitting
  • Collecting deposit bottles in the evening
  • Volunteering for a clinical trial

Those were my ideas, completely off the cuff. I decided to start with collecting bottles. I'd once seen a TV report about it. A savvy woman had actually collected enough for her next vacation.
Why not!

How can I make money

Hunter-Gatherer

It went surprisingly well. On average I made $15 to $30 collecting bottles. In the evenings I found some in parking lots and parks. I got two hours of fresh air. Pat on the back, and I'm proud of myself. "How can I make money" is even good for my health!

On top of that, I decided to go into copywriting. I love writing funny stories, and Kati was able to get me a job. Right now I'm even earning $350 to $400 a week from collecting and writing. Sooner or later my $3,500 overdraft will be paid off.

The main thing is being independent of the bank. I never want to experience a situation like that again. And I can only advise everyone to just sit down. Take a big white sheet of paper. Write "How can I make money" at the top and just think.

My sheet is still lying on my desk and I keep adding to it. Right now I'm happy with my two "side jobs". I've already thought about publishing a little guide and sharing my experiences with others. That of course assumes that I'll try out even more things.

Why not! Then one day I can help others get going. Because "How can I make money" would be a very good book title. It's catchy!