Are you a fan of BJDs but stuck admiring from afar?

If you have time to invest, I’ve come up with 10 ways to make money to help you afford the BJD hobby. I’m not saying they’re all fun, some can be downright boring, but money is money. 🙂

1. Get a Part-Time Job

Part time jobs can be no fun, but they can most certainly provide steady employment that adds up over time. If you are in school, part-time hours are perfect for after school and weekends. If you work full-time, adding a part-time job is a great way to make supplemental income.

2. Babysit / Dog Sit / Dog Walk

With summer here, parents are looking for daytime help to watch kids and/or pets. If you’re free during the day, or willing to give up evenings and weekends, parents are willing to pay.

Responsible babysitters are in high demand, and parents are struggling to find trusted sitters for their kids. And if you have any special certifications (CPR, First-Aid, etc.), they’re generally willing to pay a little bit more.

Summer is also a time when a lot of people take vacations, which means pets are generally left behind. Some would rather pay to have their fur-babies walked, fed, and played with at home than pay for kennel boarding.

3. Yard Work

Speaking of summer vacations – that’s also a great time to offer yard work services!

There are plenty of people who would rather pay someone else to do yard work for them than give up a full day doing it themselves.

4. Sell Unused Items

We all have ‘things’ we haven’t used in the past year. And if we haven’t used them in the past year, it could be time to let them go, don’t you think?

Facebook garage sale pages, Craigslist, pawn shops, consignment shops, garage sales – these are all fantastic ways to get rid of items while turning them into a bit of cash.

5. Start an Online Business

Do you have a special talent?

If you make physical goods (jewelry, soap, candles, plushies, etc.), Etsy, Amazon, and eBay are great places to sell items you’ve made.

If you would rather offer a service like web-site design (hey! I do that, too!), character illustrations, face-up commissions, etc., Facebook groups and DoA‘s marketplace (for doll-related services) are fantastic places to offer your services.

6. Donate Plasma

Get paid to donate your plasma!

Some facilities will pay up to $260 per month for you to donate your plasma on a weekly basis. There are, of course, guidelines that you have to meet in regards to age, weight, and ID, and please be responsible!

You can find locations near you to donate.

7. Face-Painting or Bake Sale

Craft shows are in full-swing as summer gets going. And most craft shows are happy to have family-friendly activities for kids to help keep them entertained at a relatively low cost.

Summer festivals are also great places to potentially offer these services. Just be sure to contact them first!

There may be a small fee to set up a booth, so keep that in mind when reaching out to shows and festivals in your area.

8. Enter Local Contests

Check out your local community events – chances are there is some sort of event with a cash prize. It could be a recipe competition, dog costume competition, art, poetry, government slogans, and more. Local fairs and festivals are great places to start looking.

9. Collect Deposits

Does your country or state have deposit fees on glass or tin cans?

Return these items for the refund and watch your savings grow! 5 cents doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but it can add up quick. Check with your neighbors and/or pick up litter around town… Many people can’t be bothered to take their recycling in – profit from their laziness!

10. Gifts

Do you ever receive money as gifts?If so, set it aside for your next dolly purchase.

Do you have a family OK with the idea of gifting money instead of items? Let them know what you are saving up for! Some family members are more than happy to contribute to something they know you will love rather than play a guessing game of what you might like.

You could even go so far as to set up a Paypal donation page so family and friends can contribute directly to your bank account.

Do you have any additional ways to make money to afford dolls or doll-related items? Let me know – I’d love to hear them!