Morning!
Got a new book for y’all that just hit the shelves – “The Money Tree: A Story About Finding the Fortune in Your Own Backyard.” By one of the most interesting people online, and probably offline too! ;) –> Chris Guillebeau!
Long term readers might remember him from his Art of Non-Conformity days when he was working on visiting every country in the world (all 193 of them – which he hit before turning 35!!), but more recently he’s the best-selling author of The $100 Startup and Side Hustle, as well as being the host and creator of both the Side Hustle School podcast and World Domination Summit in Portland, OR.
Super cool guy, and he’s given us 3 copies of his latest book to give away today. Set in more of a *story* form than his previous ones, so if you like your financial tips wrapped in fiction this one’s for you :)
More on the book below, and then on to the giveaway!
******
The Money Tree:
A Story About Finding the Fortune in Your Own Backyard
From his website:
The Money Tree uses a compelling story with captivating characters to share its core insight: if you’re struggling with debt, there’s a way out—without giving up your lattes…
Jake Aarons is in trouble. He’s being evicted from his apartment in less than 30 days, the bill for his $50,000 in overdue student loans is almost due, and the digital marketing agency he works at just implemented a new military-style grading system that might cost him his job. To top it off, Jake’s new relationship with Maya was going so well… but with everything else falling down around him, he might lose her, too.
In search of answers, Jake reluctantly attends a weekly group meeting at the invitation of a coworker. Everyone in the group is trying to create a lucrative side hustle with one key requirement: they can only spend up to $500 before earning a profit. Over the course of several weeks, Jake undertakes a series of challenges, first learning how to make $1,000 in a single weekend, and ultimately how to discover the untapped skills he needs to take control of his finances–and his life.
More about the book: MoneyTreeBook.com
Where you can find the book (Amazon): The Money Tree
More about Chris! –> ChrisGuillebeau.com (great blog to follow)
******
Sound like a book you’d like to read?
Answer this question below in the comments or via email, and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of the three copies we have. U.S. winners will win a physical copy, and international winners will receive a digital copy. But it’s open to all! :)
Here’s the question:
What’s the most you’ve ever made over a weekend?
Get your answers in by Sunday night, and we’ll announce the winners shortly thereafter.
Good luck! And big congrats again, Chris!
UPDATE: Giveaway now over! Congrats to Sara, Kenya and Nathan over at Millionaire Dojo for winning! Hope y’all enjoy!! And for everyone else, keep your eyes open at your local (digital) library for it to hit shelves! ;)
******
PS: My biggest weekend came about 8 years ago when I had a chance to turn around a project worth $20,000 (!!!) in two days… And the funny part is that I was supposed to be on a cruise that I had to drop out of and was totally depressed about, lol… But that just shows how powerful working online can be!! So many good opportunities out there when your eyes are open and focused… So def. be sure to check out Chris’ other books as well, as many of them will help get you positioned to be able to take advantage of such opps when they’re so kindly presented at your door. Particularly The $100 Startup and Side Hustle. Never stop learning!
// Links to books above are Amazon affiliate links
Get blog posts automatically emailed to you!
I would really love to read this book!
Cool!
Be sure to answer the question up there if you want a chance to get a free copy of it :)
I have never had a side hussle, so a big fat $0 on weekends. Hoping this book could provide some insights and info about some possibilities. Obviously I am missing opportunities.
The most I ever made in a weekend was about $750. I was at a garage sale and these people said I could have this box of stuff if I wanted it. They were going to throw it away, so I threw it in my car not thinking much about it.
When I got home and started looking up the contents of the box, I found that I had several pieces of rare, vintage cb radio equipment. I put it all up for auction on eBay and couldn’t believe how many people started bidding.
I hadn’t thought much about selling on eBay at that point, but after that experience I decided to start doing it as a side hustle and made about $10k last year.
WOW!!!
Good for you man, that’s incredible! Love that it turned into a side hustle like that!
What’s the most you’ve ever made over a weekend?
It’s not anywhere close to $20k but I’d either say a great yard sale weekend of a couple hundred bucks or when I tended bar during a festival… again, a couple hundred dollars.
Now, spending it? Easy… lol
That’s the fun part ;)
Also, I didn’t know Chris was the creator of the World Domination Summit! I knew of him from his goal of traveling to all countries, but didn’t know he was so active. Pretty impressive guy!
Mu husband and I were at a small auction in a nearby town. I was not feeling but I love a bargain or one of a kind piece and did not want to miss out. Well, about halfway thru I started feeling worse and decided to head for the car. About 20 minutes my husband came up to the car and asked for the checkbook. Oh, you bought something? I replied. Just wait, he said. A few moments later he appears with this strange looking musical piece of equipment. What is it? I asked. A portable electric vibraphone he said and it was only $290. I almost fainted. What are we going to do with it? Ebay he replied, I figure we should double our money. After a lively discussion on the way home (can we really double our money, etc) I told him I trusted his instincts. He listed the instrument 2 days later. Fast forward to the following weekend. My husband and I were watching the auction. When it was over, I just turned to him and said, Holy moley honey we just made a profit of over $2,200! All because we went to an auction and bought a dusty 1930’s portable, and in working condition vibraphone, thanks to a new drive belt $4.99, and put it on Ebay!
Neat!! Just had to look up what a vibraphone was – that’s a pretty big instrument! Haha… I would have almost fainted too if my wife bought it and was trying to shove it in our car :)
A few years back, I made $350 dollars on ebay selling my Turbo Express Handheld gaming system. Some of the other things I count as “making money” are completing home projects that would have otherwise cost me a lot. I’m sure I have saved thousands doing my own construction. A few weekends ago I put up crown molding in my house and flooring in my bathroom and basement walk in… Im sure that provided more than $350 dollars in savings. which is almost like earned income, in that it does affect the bottom line.
I wish I were as handy as you… So many projects I’d love to have done in this house but would need to hire out due to time/sanity/lack of skills ;) Your wife must love you!
youtube! My dentist even wired in a few overhead fan/lights with wall switches from youtube. I use it for car repair, drywall, plumbing, and what ever else my husband puts off too long. (He’s a building inspector/carpenter so no one will work on my house. Their all afraid) BTW: I wouldn’t recommend doing electrical from youtube, just my humble opinion
There are plenty of websites that reference current electrical codes and have drawn out schematics to whatever situation you are wiring. That being said I would definitely recommend having at least a passing understanding of the basics, so you don’t make little mistakes, such as, burning your house down… Scary at first, but now I would never pay someone to do my electrical unless code required it and permits were pulled (i.e. 220V/240V service).
I have this project where I write a review after every book I read. Years ago, I read The Art of Non Conformity and for fun, emailed Chris about the project and the review. He answered 5 minutes later! How awesome is that!!!!!!
I sold a computer many years ago for $1000. It was the most awkward transaction ever, I had no idea what I was doing, the guy buying it had no idea what he was doing. His 10 year old was totally chill about the whole thing though. So what I am saying, is sometimes you should listen to the 10 year old.
Haha, well done friend, well done…
I made about $400 hundred dollars in a weekend garage sale. Weak sauce, but I’ll take it.
I don’t think $400 could ever be weak sauce :)
The most I’ve ever made in a weekend? I wish I could come up with something exciting but honestly it was probably doing tax work and working long hours, about $2000
$2,000 is exciting :)
Most I’ve ever made in a weekend was $450-$500. Have a side job doing timing for 5k and 10k races. Every year we have a half marathon that we sub out the timing and I do race set up and coordination. Its a long weekend but easy money to make.
Excited for Chris’s new book.
$250 judging high school theatre competitions. Clearly I need this book so I can up my game :)
The most I made during the weekend was $540.00.
Hello! In my early 20’s I worked on charter yachts. My biggest weekend was a 3 day hire, base pay $500. per day. Then came the tip- my portion was $2100.00! Which of course I didn’t know any better and probably bought lots of drinks with! Be well all!
Awesome!!
Was it like Below Deck?? That reality show? (please say yes, please say yes….)
https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck
In ways, yes . A very small world of people who work in yachting-Who was sleeping with who- which guests were horrible etc. It was definitely a glimpse into a whole different world!
If you ever want to guest post about it, you have a spot here!! :) so cool!
I did a yardsale when we were moving and made over $2000! It did make it easier to move, and the money went to repairs on the new place
I think that most money we made in a weekend was when we rented a dumpster to clean out our basement and attic. Between doing a on the fly yard sale and posting stuff online we ended the weekend with $450. Dumpster cost was $200 and we used the rest of the money to have my wife’s dissertation edited for final submittal.
Did not even go into the weekend thinking about making any cash let alone breaking even.
Stay safe everyone.
Matt
Best weekend ever made was doing a rummage sale with a profit of $135.00 CASH, with a clean out to the scrape yard of $18.78 CASH and the balance donated to the Salvation Army as a tax write off of $200 PRICELESS!
If I am working on the weekend cleaning it out…it isn’t coming back in.
My biggest single-haul side hustle is probably some lucrative credit card bonus offers–worked them hard for a year about 3 years ago (so it might be time for another round). My best was one that had a $600 bonus for spending $5000 in first 3 months. As soon as I got it, I paid a software subscription for the company I work for (at the time, they just had everyone pay-and-expense everything) so I knocked it out in 1 transaction. Kept the bonus, closed the card before the “2nd year annual fee” kicked in so that I could potentially do another bonus offer in 24 months. Got paid back before my bill was due (and had the $ to float it—ALWAYS HAVE THE $ TO FLOAT IT if you’re going to play that game!)
I haven’t found my weekend cash cow (yet!) But the most I’ve made is 400-500 over the weekend doing jobs for Taskrabbit. This weekend included getting paid 50/hr to cut someone’s grass with their own equipment!
That is a nice one! I’m surprised a lot of it is still going on with the virus, but makes sense if you’re doing lawns and such…
I was working an event and got an $880 tip on top of my daily pay! I’ve been following Chris’ work for a while and would love to see what the new book is about.
Wow! That must have been some event!
What’s the most you’ve ever made over a weekend? I made $1800 sodding a neighbors yard a few years back. My back hurt for the whole week but it helped get us out of a financial whole. Well worth the pain and all it took was asking neighbors if they had any work they needed done!
That’s a great idea to just literally ask around :) I’d have a number of things I could throw someone if they did that here!! Haha…
After I filed for divorce I realized I needed to make some money stat. I had a yard sale. I cleaned out every room in my house looking for things to sell. I had everything organized in the garage and driveway. I put a ton of effort into marketing the sale. I made over $700 on Saturday. That’s the most I’ve ever made with a yard sale. I realized I could accomplish pretty much everything if I really tried. Life is what you make it. You only get out what you put in. Since then I’ve constantly tried to find new and different ways to make money since I was now a single income household. So far I’ve impressed even myself.
I hope a lot of what you sold was your ex-husbands’ :)
The most I made in a weekend was just over $5,000. It was definitely more luck than skill though! I went to a casino with friends on a Saturday and played Craps starting with $50. When the night was through I walked away with about $2,400. I made all kinds of crazy bets that actually paid off (and looking back I can’t believe worked!). The next day we went back to the casino and I put $100 in a $1 slot machine and hit a $2,700 jackpot! Unfortunately I’ve not been able to replicate that luck again, though I rarely go to the casino to try!
That has never happened to me in my entire life, haha…
Cool story :)
What’s the most you’ve ever made over a weekend? – Somewhere between zero and $2500 :)
That looks like a book that ought to be in my library.
Great question: What’s the most you’ve ever made over a weekend?
Prior to graduating college I worked on a farm. I worked like 30 hours one weekend and made $ 300, which was a lot at a time :-)
After college I had a huge project with big deadline as an engineer and i worked 20 hours on the weekend – so, I made $ 800.
Pretty sweet!!! Now I hope i can win a “free book”. :-)
The most money I ever made over a weekend was $800. I make jewelry as a side hustle and sold that much at a local festival one weekend.
Right after college I worked Friday through Tuesday so on a weekend I made around $400.
Most I have ever made over a weekend?
Hmm….Think I made $50 taking engagement pictures for some people I know once. I could use some help.
I made $350 at a garage sale one weekend. None of my other garage sales were ever as successful.
I love when I can find opportunities to hustle over a weekend. I used to work for a relative the first weekend of each school semester in a privately owned college bookstore. It was called “rush” because students were rushing to buy their textbooks. It was crazy busy – I’m sure you all remember those days – lines out the door. I was paid cash and if I stayed a few days after the weekend it was around $1,000. I stopped doing it after 9/11 because my kids were young and I did not want to have to fly and leave them home.
Ahhhh used to love those days!! I worked for our college’s bookstore too! Only as a college student and probably making 1/20th of that :) One of the best ways to meet people though!! I met a couple of my ex-girlfriends that way, haha…
I have typically worked weekday jobs, so it’s not much! But in college I worked in the suite boxes at the football games, $100 cash per game plus tips :)
Not doing any any side hustles currently but my new job is offering lots of extra work including on the weekend – how much I make in a week varies, but some extra work on the week-end can net me about 200 in take home.
I’ve done this twice…tax foreclosure sales.
1. Auction was on a Saturday…finally bid on two lots was $7,000….current appraised value is $28,000. Cha-Ching!
2. Another piece of land…final bid $31,500. An empty lot half a block away was just listed a $55,000. Yah Baby!
Technically I have made zero dollars since I stil own the land..but you make your money when you buy an investment, not when you sell!
Always be looking and have access to $$$. I used a cash advance on two credit cards on opportunity #1 and cash for #2.
Know the rules of the sale before you bid. Some tax foreclosure sale involve putting down 10% to 20% of your bid and paying off the rest if you win. Others require 100% of payment. Others require a % down with your bid and will accept payments over time for the balance. Just ask the agency or read the pre-bidding literature.
you are braver than me, sir!! Though I do like that land doesn’t require nearly the same maintenance as a house sitting on top of it :) So maybe you are onto something there! Haha…
Buy in the town you live in, know the value of the land, buy at a price you could immediately sell at for a profit. I’ve only been able to do this twice in 20 years. The first piece I bought from the borough ( county ), and the second from the city…just land, so no renter or building issues with clean titles. I could have done it a third time for a house but It was too much work lining up the financing (getting a certified check from the bank)….still kicking myself every time I drive by the one that got away…..it was tripled in value.
oh dang! that is some good patience! I’m gonna start just keeping my eyes open and seeing what I can learn for fun… will be a nice (free) side project for now :)
Just call your local municipalities assessor or tax dept., city and county, and ask if they have tax foreclosure sales, view their online or paper bidding brochure and let the fun begin.
Okay! I will! Thanks!
The most I think I ever made would have been probably around $400 at a Saturday Morning Garage sale. So nice to make money and clean out stuff at the same time!!!
The most I made in a weekend was $150 by selling three toner cartridges on eBay. I picked the cartridges up from a thrift store for $5 a piece. Very nice return for a little bit of work!
Nice!!
Based on some of these responses, I need to have more lucrative weekends. I think it’s about $200 or $250 on a weekend when I was doing a lot of cleaning out via Craigslist.
I made $300 playing blackjack in Las Vegas. Partially made up for many less successful Vegas trips.
Haha.. nice.
The most I ever made in a weekend was $660 taking care of 6 Vizla dogs. 6 of them!! and they loved to swim in the pool. 6 wet smelly dogs! and I was 7 months pregnant at the time. That was a 3-day holiday weekend. This family had a Grand Champion in their pack and they paid!!! for their care while they were on vacation. Instead of going through one of those dog walking apps I hustled and spread word about the pet sitter services I offered. Rover is a good jump off point but why let anyone else take off the top?
WOW!!!
Hustler over there!! That would make for a helluva recommendation too for your pet resume! Haha…
You’re now entered!
***Giveaway now over!***
Big congrats to Sara, Kenya and Nathan over at Millionaire Dojo for winning! Hope y’all enjoy!!
And for everyone else, keep your eyes open at your local (digital) library for it to hit shelves ;)