With the current downtown in our economy and numerous companies downsizing or closing completely, it is easy to feel very uncertain about your financial future. Many individuals are looking into other opportunities to earn extra cash and help with the bills. If you own a car and have some time during the day, there are a number of ways to turn your car into a way to increase your monthly income. All you need is a driver’s license and a car and you can explore a number of different opportunities to earn extra cash with your vehicle.

Pet Transportation

If you own an SUV or van (though smaller vehicles will do if only one animal is being transported at a time) and have a love for animals, you can assist pet owners with their pet transportation needs. This can include transportation to and from boarding facilities, grooming appointments, and vet visits. Working people who are unable to take the time off to have their animal checked out by vet or older people who have pets but are unable to travel could really benefit from a service much like this one. You can even bundle this into a full pet assistance job where you also help with pet sitting and dog walking. However, you might want to invest in a car vacuum to clean our pet hair every now and then, especially when you use your car for human activities.

Shuttle Service for Children

Working parents do not necessarily have the time to take their kids to school or pick them up, take them to their afterschool activities, doctors’ appointments, or afterschool programs. This can especially be difficult for single parents who work full time and cannot rely on family members or friends to help them in a pinch. But what happens if a child is sick and needs to leave school but the parents cannot get out of work? Advertise that you are able to provide transportation for all this and more. Keep in mind, though, that you may have to go through a vetting process and show referrals so that parents will trust you with their children. Many full-time moms and dads check out this opportunity because they are already transporting their kids, so they can earn extra cash by transporting others as well.

Peer-to-Peer Car Rental

If you have a car that is sitting around, either because you are unable to drive it or maybe you are away on vacation, check out peer-to-peer car rental services like DriveMyCarRentals.com.au. Also known as peer-to-peer car sharing, it’s a process in which you can make your car available for use by other drivers online and receive payment for it. Do not worry about insurance because a number of these services apply their own insurance, including breakdown coverage, on your car as it is being rented out. It is a great way to earn extra cash if you are not going to be using your car for few days or even a few weeks or months.

Grocery Delivery

For some people, going out and doing the grocery shopping is very difficult. Full-time working single parents, busy households, homebound people and the elderly are not easily able to go do their weekly grocery shopping. If the person is able to go to the grocery store but cannot get there on their own, offer transportation both to and from the store. However, if people are unable to do the shopping at all, charge a higher fee, get a list of the items they want, and do the shopping for them.

Advertise for Other Businesses on Your Vehicles

You see these cars driving around all the time advertising a product or service on their car. In some cases, these people do not work for the business selling the item, but these businesses are willing to pay good money to place these advertisements on vehicles. Businesses are always looking for the next best way to gain exposure for their product or service, and vehicle advertising provides a great venue. You can earn extra cash by letting them advertise on your car. These companies will wrap your car in a lightweight vinyl that has printed images on it. You do not have to do anything but drive your car normally like you always do. Sometimes the company may ask you to attend a local event for promotional purposes.

While having automobile insurance coverage for any of these possible cash opportunities is vital, a number of expenses related to your car can be seen as tax deductible because you are using it for your business. This includes items like registration fees, vehicle depreciation, gas, repairs, oil changes, garage rent, lease payments, tolls, and parking fees. Today it is as simple as ever to turn your car into a small home-based business to earn additional income!

Just when things are going great, something devastating happens. The refrigerator stops working or your car breaks down. You soon realize you never should have purchased that big screen HDTV because that money sure would come in handy right now. In cases like these, having an emergency fund can be a metaphorical life saver. An emergency fund is money set aside for just that—an emergency. It’s a dedicated fund that should be available immediately for unforeseen financial problems. An emergency fund is something that needs to be planned for, implemented and not touched unless you actually need it. Following are 7 ways to create an emergency fund.

Save Your Change

It may sound ridiculous but saving the change that you accumulate every day can add up over time. Keep a large jar beside your front door. When you come home, drop the change that’s in your pocket or purse into the jar. Every few weeks take the change to the bank and deposit it into a savings account—your new emergency fund account. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your new account will grow.

Save Your Dollars

A much quicker way to save money for an emergency fund is to stick your dollar bills into that change jar along with the coins. A few ‘Washingtons’ dropped in every day can amount to hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Instead of being spent today, the money will be available for an emergency tomorrow.

Your Emergency Fund as a Monthly Bill

Every month you pay your bills—car payment, house payment, utilities, insurance premiums, the list could be extensive. You’ll probably never even miss the money if you treat an emergency fund as a monthly bill. When you’re writing the checks set aside a certain amount and transfer it to a savings account designated as an emergency fund. The money will collect interest until it’s needed, and you won’t miss spending it. It’ll simply be another bill that you budgeted for.

Extra Cash

Every once in a while, money you didn’t anticipate getting seems to fall into your lap. You may receive a bonus at work, or be given an inheritance from a loved one who passed away. Even though the amounts may not be much, it is ‘found’ money. It’ll take some will power, but instead of rushing out to celebrate your good fortune, stick it in your emergency fund. If you’re serious about creating an emergency fund, your tax return should end up there, too.

Take a Second Job

A quick way to build an emergency fund is to take a second job. Use the money from your regular job as you usually do, for everyday expenses. The total income from your second job should go into the emergency fund. Have it deposited into the account directly, if possible. That way you won’t be tempted to use it for non-emergencies, like a much needed round of golf.

eBay or a Yard Sale

Once a year or so, go through your collection of unused items and sell them off. Have a yard sale or sell them on eBay. The old ball glove you never use anymore or the cross-country skis you had to give up when you blew out your knee may not be worth much by themselves, but cumulatively they can bring a nice chunk of change. Designate the money from their sale to go into your emergency fund.

Raises at Work

Things are going well at work, and the boss gave everyone a healthy raise. Instead of spending that money, continue to get by on what you’ve been living on. Put the extra money into the emergency fund where it’ll draw interest. It may even be possible to have the extra money deposited directly into your savings account. Any of these suggestions will work, but only if you’re dedicated to creating and building an emergency fund that is only to be used in case of a true emergency.

Guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes about car insurance quotes for www.insurancequotes.org.