( The Frisky ) -- Despite the tough economic times , you ca n't just expect to stop lusting after those Frye riding boots you 've had your eye on forever , or that your longtime trusted hair stylist is going to suddenly start cutting her prices . From hobbies to bake sales to your own Web site , there are ways to make extra money in your spare time . The fact is no matter how frugally you learn to live , there are still going to be some things you 'll want to splurge on , and that 's okay . I mean , this is a recession , after all , not a potato famine . You do n't have to give up all your luxuries or switch to low-cost everything ; you just have to get savvier about making extra money for those treats you enjoy . But I 'm not talking about getting a second job or really working that much harder ; a true recessionista knows how to make extra cash for little luxuries while leaving plenty of free time to enjoy them , too . After the jump , seven ways to make more money without taking a second job ... 1 . Become a focus group participant : An old co-worker turned me on to focus groups about 8 years ago and after I made 75 bucks giving my opinion on a series of coffee ads , I immediately went home , opened the phone book ( remember those ? ) , and called dozens of market research companies to get my name added to their databases for future groups . Over the years I 've made thousands of dollars telling people what I think about ads , product concepts , packaging , services , and the taste of food and beverages . Once , I even made $ 200 tasting vodka for an hour . Talk about easy money ! Check the `` Etc . '' section of Craigslist for current focus groups in your area , or do an online search for market research recruiting companies and then can call and have your name added to their databases . 2 . Use your blog : If you have a blog -- and who does n't these days ? -- you 're sitting on valuable real estate . Depending on the size of your readership , you could make anywhere from enough money to buy a magazine and a latte to enough to support your entire family ( á la Dooce ) . There are lots of different ways to make money on a blog , from virtual tip jars to product reviews , but the most popular is through running ads . In the past , I 've recruited sponsors directly for a niche blog I used to write , but I currently use an advertising program on my personal blog that basically takes care of everything so all I have to do is post regularly and collect my check at the end of the month . Free money for writing about my cats and boyfriend and favorite TV shows ! What could be easier ? There are a host of ad programs open to anyone , so do your research to find one that 's right for you . 3 . Sell the stuff you no longer want : When I moved to New York from Chicago a year ago to be with my long-distance boyfriend , I used the opportunity to unload all the crap I no longer wanted or needed . I sold furniture , home goods , clothes , accessories , and my car ( no need for one in Manhattan ! ) . In addition to hosting a yard sale where I made about 200 bucks for candles , pots and pans and old Halloween costumes , I used the hell out of Craigslist and eBay , both before my move and after I arrived when I realized I still needed to unload quite a bit to fit into my boyfriend 's one-bedroom apartment . I honestly do n't miss anything I got rid of ( and ca n't remember what most of it even was ) , and the money from the sales paid a big chunk of my moving costs . Now that I 'm settled in , I like to go through my belongings each season , selling a few items and making room and money for new stuff , like dresses and cute shoes . 4 . Make money from your hobbies : From hawking your crafts on Etsy , and selling produce from your garden , to playing piano once a week at a local restaurant , or reading tarot cards at a party , there are innumerable ways to make cash doing the activities you love . The key here is to convince yourself you have a product or skill someone else wants and then search out those people or companies who can pay you for them . 5 . Host a bake sale : Remember when we were kids and our parents used to make cookies and brownies and stuff for school bake sales to raise money for a new flagpole or air conditioning in the gym ? Well , why not do the same thing now that we 're grown-ups and need to raise money for our vacations to Barcelona ? I say get a few friends together , bake up a storm , and then sell your goods at a local market , a festival , or even online at a place like Etsy . If you love baking , this is another great way to make money from a hobby ... without inhaling all the extra calories eating the goods yourself ! 6 . Shop and sell : What recessionista does n't like shopping , right ? So instead of giving it up or cutting back , start making money off your great eye and awesome buying skills . Whether you live in an area with fantastic sample sales , or a town with the best thrift and antique stores , chances are you 're able to score stuff your recessionista sisters in other parts of the country ca n't . So make your next shopping spree a moneymaking one and sell your finds for a profit on eBay , or open a vintage shop on Etsy ( can you tell I 'm a fan of the site ? ) . 7 . Pet sit : If you know people with pets , volunteer to watch them -- for a small fee , of course -- the next time they leave town for a few days . Sure , they could kennel them or hire a professional , but most people feel better when they leave their beloved pets ( not to mention their house keys ) in the hands of someone they know and trust . And , hey , if they have cable and throw in a bottle of wine for your trouble , you 'll score a bit of a vacation yourself ... and make money for a pedicure , to boot . TM & © 2008 TMV , Inc. | All Rights Reserved .
You do n't have to get a second job to make extra money in spare time . Sell the stuff in your home that you no longer use -- try eBay or something . Sign up to be a dog group participant or become a dog sitter . Set up your own website and offer an advertising service .