If you have a lawnmower and the legs to push it (or a riding one if you don't) then you can easily make money doing yard work for people. This type of business is always in demand - as long as there are people with yards, there will be people who need help taking care of them. Personally, I'm dying for someone to come and knock on our door with an offer to mow the grass or help get rid of some brush but I think it is going to be a long, long wait. People just don't seem to do that anymore.

When I was about 10 or 11 I was a self-employed lawn guy. I would hit the streets with our lawn mower and a gas can. I would go to every house in the neighborhood banging on doors and trying to get jobs for a mere $5 a lawn. Most people said no but I never took rejection personally, I just went on to the next house and eventually I was always able to get work. It was the first business I ever owned and I learned a lot about the real world and I also learned the value of a dollar.

When Fall came, I made money by raking leaves. When it snowed, I shoveled driveways and sidewalks and no, I didn't have a snowblower, I did it all by hand. I wasn't strong physically but I was mentally and I could go all day long and I did. Most of my friends stayed indoors watching TV and just generally did nothing but I always worked when I could.

So how does this apply to you? Easy. Throw your mower in the back of your truck and drive until you see a ratty yard and offer to mow it. If you can't find any mowing customers, look for people who need shrubs trimmed or maybe have a fallen tree they need hauled away. Believe me, there are plenty of people who for whatever reason have a hard time with this kind of work and you will be a lifesaver. Eventually you'll end up with a lot of repeat business and those people will recommend you to their friends until you finally have a good business built up. This is almost too easy.

By the way, be sure to see if you need a license or permit to go door-to-door in your town. In some places you do, in some you don't. They are usually cheap or free and it isn't worth the price of a ticket if you get caught without one.