Homeward Bound
Become a Pet Sitter
If you love dogs and wouldn't mind a furry creature in your home for a few days, try Dog Vacay, a site that pairs vacationing pet owners with canine sitters.
The kids begging for a pooch of their own?
"It's a great way to expose your kids to animals without the ongoing responsibility of pets," says DiNunzio.
RELATED: Help Your Child Adapt to a New Pet
Sell Your Books
While they look lovely on the shelves, let's face it: Your books might be collecting more dust than pageviews.
"Everyone is moving to the Kindle," DiNunzio says. "(Books) are big and heavy, and when you're moving it's a nightmare."
DiNunzio suggests sites like Bookscouter.com, which allows you to enter the book's ISBN to find a bookstore with the best buyback price.
Sell Your Kids' Books
"Education is a hot trend right now," says Linsey Knerl, mom of five and senior writer at financial website Wise Bread.
As your kids get older and aren't reading kids' classics like The Runaway Bunny, Knerl says, "you can bundle them and sell them on eBay as a 'classics bundle,'" rather than just one at a time.
You'll get more than you would at a garage sale, she adds, but make sure to "label them 'educational,' because home-school parents look for that," Knerl says.
Rent out Your Car
For families with two cars but only one frequent driver, Knerl recommends finding a driver who'll pay for the convenience of borrowing yours. "If you're using it only in the mornings or evenings or dropoff for the kids, you can rent out your car."
"Just make sure your insurance covers something like that," Knerl says. "It's great for when your car is just sitting in the driveway."
DiNunzio recommends sites like Wheelz.com or ZipCar.com.
Kick out the Sports Stuff
Has your son grown out of those shin guards, or has your daughter ditched those volleyball shoes? Knerl recommends selling your child's used sports gear on craigslist.
"Even the beat-up stuff can go," she says, "even if it's just for practice."
Cash in on Gold
In these tumultuous economic times, many people have been turning to gold. And don't think you need a showroom worthy of Tiffany & Co. to get started—or even a complete set.
"It's super easy," says DiNunzio. "When I sold gold, I had one earring from college." Necklaces from ex-boyfriends? Those can go, too.
DiNunzio recommends online gold buyer Goldfellow. "Send in broken jewelry," she says. "Goldfellow will even extract jewels from a piece and send them back to you."
