In these lean times of run-away petrol prices, rising credit interest rates and ever-higher grocery bills, every additional source of income is a sought-after commodity. Even people who hold a full-time job are starting to feel the pinch. Things are that much more difficult for first-time job seekers or people who find themselves in-between jobs.

The good news is that you can turn to the Internet and earn some extra cash to help make ends meet. Especially convenient are the existing online auction sites and market places, like the internationally known eBay.com, the South African bidorbuy.co.za, eBid.com, uBid.com, etc. What all of them have in common is that they bring together buyers and sellers, allowing them to trade among themselves, to buy and sell virtually anything - from a second-hand toaster to a state-of-the-art iPhone.

You may opt to start the usual way: rummage through your attic or garage for stuff that has been lying around for years. You probably have a collection of never-used Christmas or wedding gifts gathering dust. Just because you do not like them, it does not mean that somebody else will not.

After you turn your own clutter into cash, look for the things other people are trying to get rid of. Go to your neighbourhood flea markets and garage sales. If things are going well, you may want to include wholesale stores in your list of suppliers.

You can sell consumer items online. You can sell the objects you made with your own hands. You can sell your knowledge on any subject imaginable in the form of eBooks. In short - you can sell almost anything, from a comic book to a car.

Yes, everything sells on online - but most of all, what sells on online is good old honest hard work. The difference between a successful online seller and a not so successful online seller is often more linked to how hard they work than to what they sell.

Selling on an established online auction sites and marketplaces is similar to any other business in the sense that it involves work. However, it is much cheaper. All you need is a computer with internet connection and you are ready to begin selling from the comfort of your home, twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. There are practically no other expenses. You will have at your fingertips a state-of-the-art, inexpensive sales channel direct to consumers. You need not spend time and money advertising your goods. The site takes care of this and has an already large customer base. Many of the established online marketplaces do not charge listing fees, which means that you do not run any financial risk whatsoever. And even if there are, they are usually minimal and well worth the investment.

Although setting up a shop with an established online marketplace is a straightforward affair, involving a not-too-steep learning curve and a small initial outlay, do not be lulled into thinking that online selling is easy. On the contrary. It involves a lot of hard work - just like any other business.

Copyright (c) 2008 Bobby Buys