Ok, Lounge, help me think up some legit money-making schemes.

[LynzM]

Zornhau (formerly known as Briarius) and I and the little one are planning on moving to Munich, Germany, next fall.

Since Germans are fond of charging three months' rent for deposit plus 2 more months' rent for finder's fee, plus flights and relocation help, the short version is that we will need a shitload of money by then.

We've cut some non-necessities, like TV (you shoulda heard the crap I got from the woman on the phone, doing that), eating out, picking up a coffee, etc., etc. I just got a raise, which ought to cover about 15% of our needs if we put that all into savings. Cutting cable should cover another 8%. Cutting odds and ends here and there is easily another 10% of what I hope to accrue over 10 months.

I put up fliers for tutoring German at the nearby college and am about to put up ones for Math. Was thinking of putting up some that I'll type papers for a fee, since I type about 80WPM. I've looked into online transcription and am not sure I'm good or patient enough to do that.

I've been putting books up on Amazon and about to get some vast amounts of used clothes together to take to our local eBay store. Might not bring in much, but any is better than none, right?

Anybody have any other brilliant ideas of *legal* ways that we can make money, other than one or both of us taking some kind of part-time job in the interim? We've both got college degrees and previous white-collar work experience, so we're over-qualified for a lot of seasonal stuff around the holidays, I'm thinking.

Things I'm good at: Typing, proof-reading/editing, German, Math, helping people, baking damn good chocolate chip cookies, internet research, databases, talking to people. Things Zornhau is good at: Electronics, computers, non-major car repairs (timing belts ok, engine overhaul not so good), fighting with longswords and rock climbing.

Bring out your brilliance for me?

[LynzM]

1. Buehler? Buehler?!

No takers?

[NewHampster]

2. A job

:)

[lizziegrace]

4. They're both

already working full-time jobs. :)

[NewHampster]

5. My bad I didn't read

I apologize.

Damn I have to do that a lot.

[LynzM]

6. You know, I didn't actually mention that, lol

Yeah, we're both already employed full-time... whee! Looking to supplement that... :)

[lizziegrace]

3. Timing belt?

My Honda needs one of those along with a water pump.

Damn I wish Connecticut was closer. I'd much rather pay J than the garage.

:(

[LynzM]

7. Hehe....

Get yourself moved out here already, woman! :) Wanna buy a reno'd 1890's house, soon-to-be-vacated? :rofl:

[lizziegrace]

22. I'd have to be a tenant

I *love* old houses but it'd have to be a rental deal. :(

[LynzM]

25. Hrm...

Would you want to be the stand-in landlord? We could rent you the part we're moving out of... :)

[lizziegrace]

32. Job first...

I'll send you a resume. ;)

[LynzM]

44. Hehe... cool :)

I'll be waiting for it!

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. Here's an idea:

Don't go. :cry:

[LynzM]

9. Awww.....

:hug: Don't worry, they have DU in Germany, too... ;)

[ThomCat]

10. Damn, damn, damn.

:cry:

I only just recently found out that I can make the trip up there to see both of you, and now you're moving half way around the world.

Damn. :(

If I think of anything I'll definitely let you know. And I definitely want to be invited to the worlds best going away party.

[LynzM]

11. I know, dude :(

Leaving people behind is going to be the hardest part. I think it's likely that we'll be back in the area for 3-4 weeks every year, though, given those wonderfully long European vacations! :) Of *course* you're invited to the party!!

[Drum]

12. What about doing translations?

For lawyers or such...not everybody's businesses can afford to depend on software, meaning a real person who's fluent will do the best work.

Or maybe German for mathematicians?

I'd also hope that the longsword fighting can get in there somewhere too. ;)

[gmoney]

13. Don't go to the eBay store

The storefront shops charge a huge percentage... you should do it yourself and keep a LOT more of the money.

[SmokingJacket]

23. I agree with that one.

You won't get much for clothes anyway, and the store will take most of the profit.

[Kutjara]

14. Don't forget that German rental properties...

...are generally stripped bare. I lived in Wuerzburg, Munich and Frankfurt in the 80s and early 90s, and every apartment we rented looked like it had been looted. I'm not just talking unfurnished, here, I'm talking no kitchen cabinets or wall lights. One apartment didn't even have a sink or taps, just a closed-off water pipe coming out of the kitchen wall. At least bathroom fixtures aren't usually removed (although you'll probably find the mirror and any lights gone.)

What I'm saying in a round about way is to budget for items like lights and cabinets. Oh, and wardrobes (schranks), because many apartments don't have built in closets in the bedrooms.

[LynzM]

26. Yep, all of that's been duly noted.

We're definitely looking for an apartment with EBK! One good thing is I've found a good chatboard for Munich ex-pats, and a lot of furniture trades hands there on the cheap on a regular basis. If all else fails, there's always IKEA...

I understand *why* the German apartment system works this way, but it's a little nutty as an American, to think about. We're not planning (yet?) on staying in one apartment for 12 years, so we don't care if it's totally stripped to allow us to customize it! (But also not willing to pay the huge increased price for a furnished place...)

Thanks! :hi:

[StrongBad]

15. Look into doing transcriptions

I don't know where you live, but I live in LA and there is always a need for people to type out transcriptions of programming. Check out the Los Angeles Craigslist website for postings concerning transcription jobs. If you're a fast and accurate typer you could make a couple extra hundred bucks here and there working from home.

There also may be similar opportunites in your hometown but unfortunately I don't know where to point you in that circumstance.

Good luck!

[LynzM]

27. I was actually looking at that stuff last night...

Are you talking about TV programming? Seemed to me like you'd need some amount of specialized equipment to do that? I can take a look at the Hartford Craigslist and see if there's anything like that posted there...

[Connonym]

46. I'm a transcriptionist (medical) and I looked into the TV thing

and from what I could tell they pay shit for transcribing TV shows. I wanna move to Germany :( or anywhere but here...ok not *anywhere* but someplace better. I'm so envious!

[LynzM]

54. Awww....

:hug: Come visit, I'll save you a beer or whatever you'd like to drink :)

How's medical transcribing? Can one do that p/t from home?

[Ptah]

16. I can't think of any schemes. I will wish you and yours good luck on your adventure.

There is a village called geradstetten that my ancestors are from, near Stuttgart.



I envy your near future.

[LynzM]

29. Oh, cute!

I enjoyed living in Stuttgart... if you're ever headed over to visit, let us know :) I'd love to meet you and have an excuse to get back to Stuttgart for a day or two!

[Crabby Appleton]

45. So you're a villager?

[DarkTirade]

17. If I knew a good way to make extra cash, I would have used it myself already.

Hmm... maybe I should get a webcam and start charging... :P

[LynzM]

30. LMAO...

Well, there's always that :P

[MissHoneychurch]

18. Regarding finding an apt

if you don't go over a Makler but look through the newspapers yourself then you can save 3 months rent for the Makler.


You are really coming??? :woohoo: Another reason to come to Munich. Seeing 48percenter and you and Briarius :woohoo:

:D

[LynzM]

31. Yep!

We're thinking of using a relocation service to help us find a place, set up contracts, do all the necessary paperwork, etc., etc. If we do that, we'll be looking for a provisionsfrei place, since the relo cost is about the same as the Makler.

But yes, we are really coming! :bounce: Can't wait to see you again!

[MissHoneychurch]

47. I am really getting excited about that!!!

that is so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bounce:

That might help a lot with the relocation service. There are also Internet sites for renting

http://www.immobilienscout24.de
http://www.immowelt.de/
http://www.immonet.de/
http://www.immobilien.de/

Might help you getting at least an idea what you look for and what it costs

:woohoo:

[LynzM]

48. Oh goodness, you have no idea how I stalk those sites...

I've got searches that email me with new finds everyday... :blush:

I think what we're looking for is 3 bedrooms, <1000 Kalt, Hausetiere erlaubt oder nach Vereinbarung, mit EBK. I'd love to be within 5 mintes walk of U-bahn or S-bahn, would love to have a garden, am really looking forward to huge windows with lots of light.

Seems like most Munich apartments are geflegt with new floors and all white walls. Bleh. Will have to work on that :)

Can't wait to meet up with you again! :bounce:

[MissHoneychurch]

63. OK, why do you move to Munich and not to Frankfurt????

I could help you a lot more then :D

Try to find an apt a bit outside Munich, the city itself is f*ing expensive as you might have found out already.

[LynzM]

64. Because my company has a branch in Munich....

Which is our ticket to Visas and residence permits :(

Yeah, moving to Munich seems to be about the equivalent of moving to NYC or San Francisco, financially, here. Still, we'll figure out how to make it work! Just need to find John a job... :)

[krispos42]

19. Sell kiddie porn

Okay, here's what you do...

Put some ads in some adult magazines that go something like this:

LEGAL KIDDIE PORN FOUND!!!!!

Recently, reels of long-lost European kiddie porn were discovered in the Hollywood estate of recently deceased eccentric millionaire John Q. Somebody. It turns out that, by virtue of date and location of production, this porn slips through a loophole in Federal law and as such is 100% legal to own!

Copies are being made in VHS and DVD format from the original celluloid! Act now to start your collection with "Middle School Lust Volume 1", available in January 2008! Only $39.95 plus $5.95 s&h!!!! Sent check or money order to:

A.K.P.E., LLC.
P.O. Box xxxx
Anytown, USA 0000

Get all the checks and deposit them in a checking account. Keep track of all of the addresses. And get yourself a bunch of large-size fluorescent-orange checks printed up

Wait a month or two, then mail everybody a refund check.

"Dear Sir or Madam,

Our lawyers, in consultation with the US Department of Justice, have determined that the pornography discovered is, in fact, not legal to own or sell, and has in fact been destroyed.

Your refund check is included. Our sincerest apologies."

On the big fluorescent-orange checks you just bought, have them print your name and address like this:

AMERICAN KIDDIE PORN ENTERPRISES, LLC.

Proudly serving the inner pervert in all of us

PO Box xxxx
Anytown, USA 00000

Make the checks expire in 30 days. Mail out all the refund checks, wait about 6 weeks, and whatever hasn't been cashed is yours!

Odds are, no one will have the balls to actually bring their refund check to a bank! :evilgrin:

[LynzM]

34. LMAO...

I'm so not ballsy enough to do that, but that's pretty damn brilliant, I must say :rofl:

[krispos42]

41. :-) n/t

[Indi Guy]

20. Pork futures

Be a bookie on which celebrity is going to pork another.

[LynzM]

35. Heh.

Are there any *bad* bets in that? :rofl:

[Richard Steele]

21. LEGIT? I got nothing. nm

[SmokingJacket]

24. If making money were easy, everyone would be doing it.

You could start an after-school or weekend class in German for kids. Getting kids an early start in foreign languages is hot right now.

[MissMillie]

28. I just read that babysitters can make up to $15/hr (for ONE kid!)

and one of the professors here confirmed that this is what he pays.

Of course the rate will vary from city to city. $15/hr is for New York or Boston. It's $10 ish in Chicago, $8 in Dallas.

But, don't forget, you can raise the rate if there's more than one child.

Hell... a 5 hour evening can bring in close to $75.

[LynzM]

36. Hrm...

Good point. Not sure I'm willing to do that... got enough stress getting my own kiddo to sleep at night :rofl:

How's life, MissM? Hope things are going ok for you! :hi:

[Blue-Jay]

33. Dentistry.

[AllegroRondo]

37. fighting with longswords?

I hear theres good money on the underground sword fighting circuit.

[DarkTirade]

39. Dang, I left my longsword at the cleaners...

any chance they'd let me use a katana instead?

[Phentex]

38. Can you wrap gifts for the holidays?

Many people are desperate and don't have time to let the stores do it. My niece starts spreading the word just after Thanksgiving and she always has plenty of calls for help.

[LynzM]

42. Ooh! Yes, definitely could do that!

Smart, and had never thought of that. Now to think up where to do that. Does she provide the paper, or just the wrapping service itself, do you know? Thanks, Phentex!

[flvegan]

40. Are either of you Japanese pitching aces?

[LynzM]

43. Hrm, lemme check.

Nope, I'm too bad at sports and John is way too tall :rofl:

[LynneSin]

49. I would go from convience store to gas station to coffee shops and...

..steal all the pennies out of the pennies dish

[LynzM]

52. Devious, you are.

:rofl:

[DS1]

50. online nudie site

release the puppies!

[LynzM]

53. Heh...

You mean I can get *paid* for that?! :evilgrin:

[DS1]

56. I'd flip you a fiver

:D

[LynzM]

58. Promise?

:evilgrin:

[bigwillq]

51. What happened to Briarius?

:shrug:

Good Luck. I don't really have any suggestions. :hug:

[LynzM]

55. Well....

He got sick of having a name that no one could pronounce, lol. I think he should have renamed himself Zornhau the Destroyer, but he thought that wouldn't go over well in GD :rofl:

[LSK]

57. I dont know where in Germany you are going but

I found this apartments website for Munich.

www.mrlodge.com

[LynzM]

59. Thanks, dude

MrLodge only does furnished apartments, unfortunately, but I appreciate it! :hi:

[Canuckistanian]

60. One word. Plastics.

Ooops, just had a 60's flashback.

[LynzM]

65. Um, er?

Sometimes I wish I'd been around to experience the 60s...

[Inchworm]

61. Sell ashes to crackheads?

I always dreamed of this scheme, but I've quit smoking so no more ashes.

:hide:

[LynzM]

66. Eek.

We had real, honest-to-goodness crackheads living next door for a while... I don't want any more people like that in my life, thanks!

[Redstone]

62. WHAT? I know I haven't been too sociable lately, but jeez, aren't you overreacting?

Redstone

[LynzM]

67. Hehe...

Hey there MrR :loveya: :hi:

Come on, you must understand the lure of adventure when it presents itself...

Let's have lunch, shall we? I miss talking to you!

[Redstone]

73. We'll do that. And yes, an opportunity for adventure MUST be taken.

Especially when you're young.

Maybe you guys can come here for BBQ, yes? It's not too late in the year for Mrs R to fire up the grill.

Redstone

[LynzM]

74. Yes, let's do that!

I don't think we've got anything on the calendar for next weekend yet... dunno if that's too soon?

[Redstone]

78. Next weekend looks good for us; we'll keep an eye on the weather and talk

during the week, OK? Much as I enjoy having lunch with you, it'e even better for me to spend some time with J and A and to include Mrs R and the little guy too, yes?

Ich weiss das du sprechst Deutsch viel besser als ich spreche ess, so dass ist kein Problem fur dich; aber ich weiss nich ob Johann kann so gut Deutsch sprechen. Tut ere dass?

Auch, habt euch etwas Arbeit fertig, wann ihr geht nach Munchen? Ich habe ein Freundin wer wohnt im Frankfurt, und sie kann vielleicht dir helfen, wenn ihr braucht es.

Vergebe du mir for my crappy German, but it's the best I can manage.

Rotstein

[LynzM]

80. Ich hatte keine Ahnung, dass du Deutsch sprichst!

John spricht auch Deutsch, aber vielleicht ein bisschen weniger. Wir sprechen jetzt ein bisschen mit A :)

Waere sehr gut wenn wir alle zusammen sind... mit MrsR und der kleiner, auch.

Arbeit habe ich, aber J hat noch nicht. Wenn du irgendeine Kontakte im Muenchen hast, waere das sehr gut!

Tchuess!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

68. Make tutoring videos and audios and sell them.

I recently did a tutorial for a certification test I took (financial services) and paid $130 to watch streaming video a guy standing in front of a whiteboard and lecturing. The production couldn't have cost that much. You could do that or DVDs and audio CDs.

[LynzM]

69. Interesting...

I wonder what I could teach in the span of a DVD.... *ponders*

[GOPisEvil]

70. Damn, this year's World Series of Poker is over.

I hope Germany is good to you. :)

[LynzM]

75. Yeah, and my poker face sucks, anyway...

:rofl: Thanks, dude!

[Zephyrbird]

71. Okay, I know this is gross,

But what's really a HOT moneymaker right now is picking up dog crap in other people's yards.

Now, you may think I'M full of dog crap, but it's something I looked into and you can make a bunch of dough (or poop) in a short period of time. USA Today even had an article on it.

So. It just depends on how high your nose is.

Me, I used to pay somebody $25 per bird cage to clean them. 4 hours work, she had $100.

Poop is big business. Just ask Mike Rowe. :D

GOOD LUCK!!

[LynzM]

76. Hrm....

I might be willing to do that, but I don't think we live in the right kind of residential area.... But yeah, Mike Rowe definitely knows! :rofl:

[DarkTirade]

72. Wait... since you're moving to europe, that would be a metric shitload of cash, right? Not standard.

Just wanted to make sure, they're not quite the same. :)

Actually I just wanted to kick this because I'm curious to know what other money-making ideas people will come up with... :)

[LynzM]

77. LMAO...

Yep, cost in $ is about 1.25^cost in Euros, at the moment :(

I'm curious, too...

[leeroysphitz]

79. I know this Nigerian prince who may be able to help...

[LynzM]

82. Hehe...

I wonder if that's the same one who's been emailing me... :crazy:

[YDogg]

81. The National Guard is hiring ...

[LynzM]

83. Urgh.

No thanks. They wouldn't want me anyway, I'm diabetic.