How can I invest $14?
April 13, 2004 7:15 AM Subscribe
I have an extra $14. Rather than spend it at the bar, I've decided to try to turn it into $1,000 by April 15, 2005 through fairly low risk investments (i.e. no poker games or lottery tickets). My first goal is $20. What would you do to make $20 from $14?
$14.00 into $1000.00? Low risk? When you figure it out, please let us know the secret.
Snarkiness aside, oneshare.com makes it easy to buy a single share of stock. Find the right company at the right time and you may wind up doubling it over night. You can just as easily loose it though.
In all seriousness, poker games or lottery tickets would give you just as good a chance of turning it into $1000.00 in a year. You'll have more fun.
Hell, I'll bet you $14.00 in a coin toss if we can figure out how to do it on-line.
posted by bondcliff at 7:31 AM on April 13, 2004
Snarkiness aside, oneshare.com makes it easy to buy a single share of stock. Find the right company at the right time and you may wind up doubling it over night. You can just as easily loose it though.
In all seriousness, poker games or lottery tickets would give you just as good a chance of turning it into $1000.00 in a year. You'll have more fun.
Hell, I'll bet you $14.00 in a coin toss if we can figure out how to do it on-line.
posted by bondcliff at 7:31 AM on April 13, 2004
The first thing you should do is buy this bridge I have for sale...
Seriously, you just can't expect a 7000% ROI in a single year without an absurd amount of risk. If you could, everyone would be doing it. Form a pure investment standpoint, you'd be lucky to get $20 from $14 by next year.
Your best bet is to stash it in a savings account. When you get another little bit of extra cash, put that in as well. You'd be surprised how quickly it accumulates.
posted by mkultra at 7:36 AM on April 13, 2004
Seriously, you just can't expect a 7000% ROI in a single year without an absurd amount of risk. If you could, everyone would be doing it. Form a pure investment standpoint, you'd be lucky to get $20 from $14 by next year.
Your best bet is to stash it in a savings account. When you get another little bit of extra cash, put that in as well. You'd be surprised how quickly it accumulates.
posted by mkultra at 7:36 AM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: Sorry. I didn't mean strictly investment. The best suggestion I've had so far is to bake some pies and have a very small bake sale. That could work. Hell, this is America. I see no reason why this can be achieved with a little ingenuity and a minimal amount of work.
posted by BirdD0g at 7:39 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by BirdD0g at 7:39 AM on April 13, 2004
what the fuck? what kind of question is that? What kind of answer are you expecting? No risk?!? What the hell is wrong with you? I'm sorry, but that is just a really stupid fucking "question". You expect to make a 7,000% return in one year, from $14? You have to have money to make money. Stop wasting space on askmefi with this ridiculous crap.
"Hmm, I have a question too. I don't have any money but I want to make a large amount of money quickly with no risk at all. yep."
Jesus christ. so much junk in the green these days..
posted by ac at 7:39 AM on April 13, 2004
"Hmm, I have a question too. I don't have any money but I want to make a large amount of money quickly with no risk at all. yep."
Jesus christ. so much junk in the green these days..
posted by ac at 7:39 AM on April 13, 2004
I think this is a fun question.
What do you know a lot about? If you're an old blues record expert, prowl eBay for an underpriced gem and resell it for your $6 profit.
Think about it... Do this 3 times a week and you'll be at $1000 within a year.
posted by Coffeemate at 7:45 AM on April 13, 2004
What do you know a lot about? If you're an old blues record expert, prowl eBay for an underpriced gem and resell it for your $6 profit.
Think about it... Do this 3 times a week and you'll be at $1000 within a year.
posted by Coffeemate at 7:45 AM on April 13, 2004
but seriously, if $14 is all you have to spare/risk/invest, just save it or buy some booze or something. Don't waste space here. please.
posted by ac at 7:45 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by ac at 7:45 AM on April 13, 2004
jeez - ac. Chill
I don't have any money but I want to make a large amount of money quickly with no risk at all. is a perfect question for the green.
- Interesting
- May be solution we don't know about
- Fun
- Everybody can join in.
Bird0g - I'd look at selling on ebay.
Hit the thrift / charity stores, and get a bunch of cheap but groovy outfits. Sell these as 70's / emo / whatever fashion outfits.
posted by seanyboy at 7:52 AM on April 13, 2004
I don't have any money but I want to make a large amount of money quickly with no risk at all. is a perfect question for the green.
- Interesting
- May be solution we don't know about
- Fun
- Everybody can join in.
Bird0g - I'd look at selling on ebay.
Hit the thrift / charity stores, and get a bunch of cheap but groovy outfits. Sell these as 70's / emo / whatever fashion outfits.
posted by seanyboy at 7:52 AM on April 13, 2004
Put something worth $14 (or two things $7) on ebay. If it sells, overcharge on shipping by a dollar or two. Then buy $20 worth of stuff and overcharge by $2. And so on....
Seems everyone screws me on shipping, so this must be the business model.
posted by mkelley at 7:54 AM on April 13, 2004
Seems everyone screws me on shipping, so this must be the business model.
posted by mkelley at 7:54 AM on April 13, 2004
I don't want to chill. I want this turd to get out of ask mefi.
repeat: **you have to have money to make money, and it must be an amount that is not a totally insignificant little shit, like fourteen dollars**.
If 14 bucks is ALL you have to spare, and can't risk or invest any more to make more money, then you shouldn't be doing this at all.
posted by ac at 7:59 AM on April 13, 2004
repeat: **you have to have money to make money, and it must be an amount that is not a totally insignificant little shit, like fourteen dollars**.
If 14 bucks is ALL you have to spare, and can't risk or invest any more to make more money, then you shouldn't be doing this at all.
posted by ac at 7:59 AM on April 13, 2004
Birddog, I'll give you $20.00 if you can convince ac to lighten up and realize one person's junk is another's fun.
I like this question.
posted by bondcliff at 8:04 AM on April 13, 2004 [1 favorite]
I like this question.
posted by bondcliff at 8:04 AM on April 13, 2004 [1 favorite]
I see 2 questions here: how to get to $1,000 from 14, and how to get to $20 from $14.
It's easy to get to $1,000, and the good news is you don't have to risk your $14 at all. The answer is work for it, and I see you're open to that with your bakesale idea. You only have to earn $20 a week, which is only four hours a week of $5/hour labor. Unless you had someone post for you, you seem to know how to type, so my suggestion is to offer cheap transcription sevices on elance.
For the $20 goal, I 2nd bondcliff's suggestion of oneshare.com. Just pick the right pony and you're golden.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:05 AM on April 13, 2004
It's easy to get to $1,000, and the good news is you don't have to risk your $14 at all. The answer is work for it, and I see you're open to that with your bakesale idea. You only have to earn $20 a week, which is only four hours a week of $5/hour labor. Unless you had someone post for you, you seem to know how to type, so my suggestion is to offer cheap transcription sevices on elance.
For the $20 goal, I 2nd bondcliff's suggestion of oneshare.com. Just pick the right pony and you're golden.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:05 AM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: I'm surprised this question would upset anyone. I think it's a fairly interesting experiment. I had a manufacturing class in high school where we sold shares of stock for $10, invested in raw materials, built stupid shit and sold it at craft fairs. By the end of the semester, the shares were worth $50 each.
Another person suggested getting 12 CDs for a penny and selling them on eBay or to a used cd shop. That seems to have some potential. Does anyone know what BMG's deal ends up costing per CD when it's all said and done?
posted by BirdD0g at 8:06 AM on April 13, 2004
Another person suggested getting 12 CDs for a penny and selling them on eBay or to a used cd shop. That seems to have some potential. Does anyone know what BMG's deal ends up costing per CD when it's all said and done?
posted by BirdD0g at 8:06 AM on April 13, 2004
ac, Don't you have to track down some music for Starcraft or something? The question is as valid as what you've asked previously. Move on....
posted by mkelley at 8:08 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by mkelley at 8:08 AM on April 13, 2004
Birddog, if you buy the right amount of lemons and sugar and jack up the price of the lemonade on a really hot day you should be able to rake in the bucks.
posted by bondcliff at 8:16 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by bondcliff at 8:16 AM on April 13, 2004
On the BMG thing, you're obligated to buy at least 4 CDs within that year, which is going to cost you at a minimum 40 dollars (that's if you buy the crappy SuperSaver selections.) Unless you think you can sell 12 CDs for more than 40 dollars (and honestly, I would make it more than 60 dollars, because the SuperSavers aren't guaranteed,) then you'll actually lose money instead of make it.
posted by headspace at 8:16 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by headspace at 8:16 AM on April 13, 2004
I think this is a great challenge, and a fun question.
Like others, I would start out by hitting garage sales and flea markets, scavenging for eBay or Amazon fodder. I suppose it's slightly unethical to suggest this, but you can make an extra dollar or so via Amazon by selling books and skimping on the shipping (books don't need a lot of protection anyway).
$14 would fund a lemonade stand outside a high school sporting event (you'd have limited stock, but good profits for more next time, and you could split the profits with an 8-year-old front man if it'd be too embarassing :).
I don't know where you live, but spring time is garage sale time. $14 would cover the cost of the price stickers.
posted by o2b at 8:17 AM on April 13, 2004
Like others, I would start out by hitting garage sales and flea markets, scavenging for eBay or Amazon fodder. I suppose it's slightly unethical to suggest this, but you can make an extra dollar or so via Amazon by selling books and skimping on the shipping (books don't need a lot of protection anyway).
$14 would fund a lemonade stand outside a high school sporting event (you'd have limited stock, but good profits for more next time, and you could split the profits with an 8-year-old front man if it'd be too embarassing :).
I don't know where you live, but spring time is garage sale time. $14 would cover the cost of the price stickers.
posted by o2b at 8:17 AM on April 13, 2004
More....
Buy a cheap 1&1 website, and fill it with interesting links using MeFi / Blog / phpNuke software. Spend a bit of time compiling / creating the articles. Make sure that the website has an extremely narrow focus. (My Little Pony Collectables and links)
Add Google Adwords.
Tell people about the website.
Worked for Matt with PVRBlog, and a low maintainance website I run pulls in a dollar a day with no work / overhead.
posted by seanyboy at 8:18 AM on April 13, 2004
Buy a cheap 1&1 website, and fill it with interesting links using MeFi / Blog / phpNuke software. Spend a bit of time compiling / creating the articles. Make sure that the website has an extremely narrow focus. (My Little Pony Collectables and links)
Add Google Adwords.
Tell people about the website.
Worked for Matt with PVRBlog, and a low maintainance website I run pulls in a dollar a day with no work / overhead.
posted by seanyboy at 8:18 AM on April 13, 2004
Hell, I'll bet you $14.00 in a coin toss if we can figure out how to do it on-line.
How to toss a coin by telephone [or online] when you don't trust the other party (PDF, see page 5).
posted by gleuschk at 8:25 AM on April 13, 2004
How to toss a coin by telephone [or online] when you don't trust the other party (PDF, see page 5).
posted by gleuschk at 8:25 AM on April 13, 2004
Not only is this question fun, it's also doable. A little labor goes a long way. It's probably a lot easier to turn $14 into $1000 over a year, rolling up one's sleeves, than it is turning $1400 into $100,000. It's not a matter of investment risk so much as effort.
Depending on markup, eBay and blogs and bake sales may all work. So would a car wash or another novel, localized concept. The trick, as the thread is figuring out, is finding cheap-enough raw materials that can be easily monetized.
posted by werty at 8:28 AM on April 13, 2004
Depending on markup, eBay and blogs and bake sales may all work. So would a car wash or another novel, localized concept. The trick, as the thread is figuring out, is finding cheap-enough raw materials that can be easily monetized.
posted by werty at 8:28 AM on April 13, 2004
I like this question as well--the $14 value is just low enough so that I can't come up with an easy answer.
That said, certain books, compact discs, DVDs, and rare books earn amazing returns on eBay, percentage-wise. For example, if you're lucky, you can go to your local used-CD shop and score a David Bowie CD from the Sound and Vision re-issue series by Ryko (not the Virgin reissues that are on shelves now). Many shops will throw those in amongst all the other widely available discs for $7-$10, not knowing their value--they can easily go for as high as $25 on eBay.
As far as turning $20 into $1,000--I'd think about investing in books. If you can read the whims of the contemporary book market, you can get excellent returns that way as well. If you live in a large city, start going to book signings. But even unsigned books can appreciate significantly in value if they're the kind of thing that develops a cult following--for example, back when Mark Danielewski's House of Leaves was widely sought-after in hardcover, I sold a copy that cost me $30 for $150, six months later. Deals like that aren't as uncommon as you'd think.
On preview--wow, this is getting lots of answers.
posted by Prospero at 8:32 AM on April 13, 2004
That said, certain books, compact discs, DVDs, and rare books earn amazing returns on eBay, percentage-wise. For example, if you're lucky, you can go to your local used-CD shop and score a David Bowie CD from the Sound and Vision re-issue series by Ryko (not the Virgin reissues that are on shelves now). Many shops will throw those in amongst all the other widely available discs for $7-$10, not knowing their value--they can easily go for as high as $25 on eBay.
As far as turning $20 into $1,000--I'd think about investing in books. If you can read the whims of the contemporary book market, you can get excellent returns that way as well. If you live in a large city, start going to book signings. But even unsigned books can appreciate significantly in value if they're the kind of thing that develops a cult following--for example, back when Mark Danielewski's House of Leaves was widely sought-after in hardcover, I sold a copy that cost me $30 for $150, six months later. Deals like that aren't as uncommon as you'd think.
On preview--wow, this is getting lots of answers.
posted by Prospero at 8:32 AM on April 13, 2004
OK, before you all gut ac, remember that the original question specifically said "through fairly low risk investments". The various work-for-it suggestions are all good, but they don't answer the poster's question, which I agree is pretty dumb.
posted by mkultra at 8:45 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by mkultra at 8:45 AM on April 13, 2004
I love this question.
The bottom line is you won't make your returns off $14 without a little bit of light work which you don't seem to mind doing.
The only way you'll make that much money with low risk is through a high margin enterprise. I recommend that you sell food to construction workers out of the back of your car, roachcoach style. Many types of lunch foods are high margin and easy to make. Sandwiches, chili and cornbread for Southerners, and hotdogs come to mind.
Consider chili dogs priced at $2 a piece. Keep in mind that only perceived product quality is important. Don't buy the expensive stuff but don't skimp on extras either.
You can heat the hot dogs and chili at home and bring them to the construction site in a cooler to keep them hot. Don't forget to give the foreman a free hot dog before you start selling to everyone else.
Assume Condiments last 4 days and you can sell your dogs for $2 a piece.
$3 Hot Dogs (8)
$2 Buns (8)
$1 Onion (1)
$2 Can of chili
$1 Paper Towels
$3 Condiment multi pack (mustard, ketchup, relish)
$2 Sauerkraut
------------------
$14 or $1.48 per hot dog. That's $0.52 profit per transaction.
Ending Cash
----------------
$16 Today
$21 Wed
$26 Thu
$31 Friday
After buying Monday's supplies you'll have $17 left. That'd buy you a variety pack of chips and a case of soda.
Including a bag of chips and a soda with the hot dog would only increase your cost by $0.75 or so per transaction. If you sold dog+chips+soda for $3.50 that's $1.27 profit per transaction. $1.27 times 30 workers is $38 in profit per day. If you could visit two sites a day you'd be pulling in $76 profit a day or $380 a week.
Even accounting for rainy days, scouting out construction sites and gas you could have $1000 in under a month if you started today.
Accounting for two hours spent on this endeavor each day you'd still be making the equivalent of $38 an hour.
Go with food. It's simple, low risk, and high margin.
As for everyone else, STOP CRAPPING ON THIS THREAD. Shouldn't you be bitching about Bush or something?
posted by yangwar at 8:57 AM on April 13, 2004
The bottom line is you won't make your returns off $14 without a little bit of light work which you don't seem to mind doing.
The only way you'll make that much money with low risk is through a high margin enterprise. I recommend that you sell food to construction workers out of the back of your car, roachcoach style. Many types of lunch foods are high margin and easy to make. Sandwiches, chili and cornbread for Southerners, and hotdogs come to mind.
Consider chili dogs priced at $2 a piece. Keep in mind that only perceived product quality is important. Don't buy the expensive stuff but don't skimp on extras either.
You can heat the hot dogs and chili at home and bring them to the construction site in a cooler to keep them hot. Don't forget to give the foreman a free hot dog before you start selling to everyone else.
Assume Condiments last 4 days and you can sell your dogs for $2 a piece.
$3 Hot Dogs (8)
$2 Buns (8)
$1 Onion (1)
$2 Can of chili
$1 Paper Towels
$3 Condiment multi pack (mustard, ketchup, relish)
$2 Sauerkraut
------------------
$14 or $1.48 per hot dog. That's $0.52 profit per transaction.
Ending Cash
----------------
$16 Today
$21 Wed
$26 Thu
$31 Friday
After buying Monday's supplies you'll have $17 left. That'd buy you a variety pack of chips and a case of soda.
Including a bag of chips and a soda with the hot dog would only increase your cost by $0.75 or so per transaction. If you sold dog+chips+soda for $3.50 that's $1.27 profit per transaction. $1.27 times 30 workers is $38 in profit per day. If you could visit two sites a day you'd be pulling in $76 profit a day or $380 a week.
Even accounting for rainy days, scouting out construction sites and gas you could have $1000 in under a month if you started today.
Accounting for two hours spent on this endeavor each day you'd still be making the equivalent of $38 an hour.
Go with food. It's simple, low risk, and high margin.
As for everyone else, STOP CRAPPING ON THIS THREAD. Shouldn't you be bitching about Bush or something?
posted by yangwar at 8:57 AM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: As I explained, I'm willing to do a minimal amount of work. I already have a career that pays the bills and I don't plan on giving it up to bust my ass doing hard labor. It just seems to me that there's gotta be a way to make 15%-20% quickly, especially on a small sum of money.
For example, Prospero's book signing idea is brilliant. The same would work if I bought a CD that I knew I would be able to get autographed at a show. It's an easy way to boost value. Thank you, Prospero, and to the rest of you who see the the fun in this challenge.
posted by BirdD0g at 9:01 AM on April 13, 2004
For example, Prospero's book signing idea is brilliant. The same would work if I bought a CD that I knew I would be able to get autographed at a show. It's an easy way to boost value. Thank you, Prospero, and to the rest of you who see the the fun in this challenge.
posted by BirdD0g at 9:01 AM on April 13, 2004
Low risk, relatively high return (over 100% in many cases); but requires some manual work, and that makes it impossible to scale up.
1. Buy bulk Lego on ebay (or better yet, offline).
2. Clean it, break it down into small packages, and put it back on sale (do this definitely via Ebay, with good pics and no-bullshit terms)
3. Reinvest the profit.
This happens constantly on ebay and many a large lego collection has been built using this trick (a large lego collection requires well over $1000 in spare cash)
Consider the following:
Lego is a great internet product: clear cut specs, highly durable & considerably nerdy.
Consecuently, there are probably well over 100 Lego auctions finishing *every single day* on ebay. Both the demand as well as the cheap bulk availability are there, so the risk is minimum. Part of the constant opportunity, BTW, is due to the Lego Company's "WTF"-grade global distribution policy.
Some previous research is needed, but if you can also specialize to cut down on the upfront research and learn as you go along. I'd say recognizing the "golden heaps" shoudln't take long.
posted by magullo at 9:01 AM on April 13, 2004
1. Buy bulk Lego on ebay (or better yet, offline).
2. Clean it, break it down into small packages, and put it back on sale (do this definitely via Ebay, with good pics and no-bullshit terms)
3. Reinvest the profit.
This happens constantly on ebay and many a large lego collection has been built using this trick (a large lego collection requires well over $1000 in spare cash)
Consider the following:
Lego is a great internet product: clear cut specs, highly durable & considerably nerdy.
Consecuently, there are probably well over 100 Lego auctions finishing *every single day* on ebay. Both the demand as well as the cheap bulk availability are there, so the risk is minimum. Part of the constant opportunity, BTW, is due to the Lego Company's "WTF"-grade global distribution policy.
Some previous research is needed, but if you can also specialize to cut down on the upfront research and learn as you go along. I'd say recognizing the "golden heaps" shoudln't take long.
posted by magullo at 9:01 AM on April 13, 2004
I LOVE the question.
I would take the $14 to the bank and exchange it for $12 in singles and the rest in change. Then I would drop all the cash into a hat, and place the hat on the sidewalk of a busy, affluent section of town. Stand by the hat with your hand stretched out.
People tend to give money more often when there's already money in the hat.
This is a NO-RISK suggestion, because in the worst-case scenario, you'd still have your original $14.
(NOTE: I'm suggesting this as a thought experiment, and I DO really think it would work, but I also think it would be unethical, unless you're genuinely down on your luck or plan to donate the money to charity.)
posted by grumblebee at 9:03 AM on April 13, 2004
I would take the $14 to the bank and exchange it for $12 in singles and the rest in change. Then I would drop all the cash into a hat, and place the hat on the sidewalk of a busy, affluent section of town. Stand by the hat with your hand stretched out.
People tend to give money more often when there's already money in the hat.
This is a NO-RISK suggestion, because in the worst-case scenario, you'd still have your original $14.
(NOTE: I'm suggesting this as a thought experiment, and I DO really think it would work, but I also think it would be unethical, unless you're genuinely down on your luck or plan to donate the money to charity.)
posted by grumblebee at 9:03 AM on April 13, 2004
I love this question, too. It reminds me of playing lemonade stand.
Do you have any performing talent? Is busking legal where you live?
posted by pieoverdone at 9:17 AM on April 13, 2004
Do you have any performing talent? Is busking legal where you live?
posted by pieoverdone at 9:17 AM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: I do play guitar, my voice isn't terrible and busking is definitely legal... State Street, Madison, WI... so it is a possibility. Maybe I could play Neutral Milk Hotel's "Two-headed Boy" over and over.
posted by BirdD0g at 10:01 AM on April 13, 2004 [1 favorite]
posted by BirdD0g at 10:01 AM on April 13, 2004 [1 favorite]
this is fun--i'd do either the ebay thing (poke around and see what's selling--then hit salvation army or garage sales), or the focused website thing seanyboy spoke of--textads, amazon and other affiliate $, etc...Another thing you could do (in the summer) is walk around with a cooler of beer/water/soda at your local beach or park, and sell them for a buck or 2 each.
Let us know what you do, and good luck--if it works, i'll copy you. : >
posted by amberglow at 10:04 AM on April 13, 2004
Let us know what you do, and good luck--if it works, i'll copy you. : >
posted by amberglow at 10:04 AM on April 13, 2004
something that has worked for me on ebay is buying a "lot" of a particular item (making sure your max bid is $14); video's, CD's action figures etc. etc. Then, break up the lot, and sell everything individually, then use mkelly's idea and charge one exra dollar for "shipping & handling." Then when you have sold all of the items, start over, buying a bigger lot.
?????
Profit!!
posted by Quartermass at 10:05 AM on April 13, 2004
?????
Profit!!
posted by Quartermass at 10:05 AM on April 13, 2004
I like this question a lot. Partly because it's showing that with a little ingenuity and not much work, a person stands a good chance of creating a successful cash flow, enough so that there's no need to eat out of trash bins and sleep in the gutter.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:06 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by five fresh fish at 10:06 AM on April 13, 2004
If you live in Madison, scour the thriftstores for used books, sell them on amazon.com and profit. The big problem of course is you need to know what books to buy. My hints, don't buy it if it was in Oprah's book club or a bestseller. Focus on condition, and stay away from paperbacks or most textbooks.
posted by drezdn at 10:13 AM on April 13, 2004
posted by drezdn at 10:13 AM on April 13, 2004
I don't know why you're so quick to write off poker. :-) All you need to do is find a group who is (or contains members which are) worse than you. If playing with significantly worse players, it's a low-risk game.
You could also host some sort of party/event where you charge guests a buck a piece or something. I've heard of people raising money that way.
There are lots of items which sell well with high markup, like the afore mentioned legos. Think a bit about how much a 7$ bottle of wine -- or vodka at 4$ a shot! -- goes for at a restaurant and think about how you could get in on that type of middleman action. For example, in high school, my class would buy candy in bulk and sell the bars for 50 cents each, making something like 50% profit.
posted by callmejay at 10:14 AM on April 13, 2004
You could also host some sort of party/event where you charge guests a buck a piece or something. I've heard of people raising money that way.
There are lots of items which sell well with high markup, like the afore mentioned legos. Think a bit about how much a 7$ bottle of wine -- or vodka at 4$ a shot! -- goes for at a restaurant and think about how you could get in on that type of middleman action. For example, in high school, my class would buy candy in bulk and sell the bars for 50 cents each, making something like 50% profit.
posted by callmejay at 10:14 AM on April 13, 2004
BirdDog, in the name of AskMe science I'll make you this offer: if you paypal me the $14 I'll post something to eBay.
a) If it sells for less than $20, I'll paypal you back $20.
b) If it sells between $20 and $30, I'll paypal you back the total amount.
c) If it sells for more than $30, I'll paypal you back $30 and keep the difference.
Either way, you'll make $6 profit (minimum) in 7 days with little effort and zero risk. I'll of course provide you with a URL of the auction. Email me to get my paypal address if you're interested. Note that I'll probably lose money on this but I'm curious to see if you can pull this off and am eager to help make it happen.
posted by dobbs at 10:38 AM on April 13, 2004
a) If it sells for less than $20, I'll paypal you back $20.
b) If it sells between $20 and $30, I'll paypal you back the total amount.
c) If it sells for more than $30, I'll paypal you back $30 and keep the difference.
Either way, you'll make $6 profit (minimum) in 7 days with little effort and zero risk. I'll of course provide you with a URL of the auction. Email me to get my paypal address if you're interested. Note that I'll probably lose money on this but I'm curious to see if you can pull this off and am eager to help make it happen.
posted by dobbs at 10:38 AM on April 13, 2004
This is an easy one to answer. FANTASY BASEBALL!
One challenge is run every month at ESPN. For as little as $5.
Another is Beat the Streak at MLB.com.
Other than gambling you won't see those types of returns for that small of investment. Doesn't hurt to post stupid questions cause you never know what great responses you will see.
posted by brent at 10:52 AM on April 13, 2004
One challenge is run every month at ESPN. For as little as $5.
Another is Beat the Streak at MLB.com.
Other than gambling you won't see those types of returns for that small of investment. Doesn't hurt to post stupid questions cause you never know what great responses you will see.
posted by brent at 10:52 AM on April 13, 2004
I have to side with ac on this one. "I have an extra $14.... I've decided to turn it into $1,000 by April 15, 2005." What the hell kind of question is that?
There are three tools for making money: work, risk, and time. You've got no time and want low-risk solutions, so all you've got left is work. All of the answers require so much work that it's just as easy to go get a job and earn the $1,000.
Scratch that, you've been saving--you only need $986.
posted by Khalad at 11:03 AM on April 13, 2004
There are three tools for making money: work, risk, and time. You've got no time and want low-risk solutions, so all you've got left is work. All of the answers require so much work that it's just as easy to go get a job and earn the $1,000.
Scratch that, you've been saving--you only need $986.
posted by Khalad at 11:03 AM on April 13, 2004
For those that don't get the fanciful nature of this question, bugger off. I think it's brilliant.
I haven't got anything new to suggest that hasn't already been suggested in one form another, but if you do have a go at this, birddog, I hope you'll consider blogging it. It'd be a fascinating read.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:26 AM on April 13, 2004
I haven't got anything new to suggest that hasn't already been suggested in one form another, but if you do have a go at this, birddog, I hope you'll consider blogging it. It'd be a fascinating read.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:26 AM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: I'd definitely like to blog it for you all:
fourteendollars.blogspot.com
What's a reliable comment script/host to use for a blog? I'm fairly illiterate when it comes to this kind of stuff. Do you have any suggestions as to what would make the most effective & reliable blog?
posted by BirdD0g at 11:49 AM on April 13, 2004
fourteendollars.blogspot.com
What's a reliable comment script/host to use for a blog? I'm fairly illiterate when it comes to this kind of stuff. Do you have any suggestions as to what would make the most effective & reliable blog?
posted by BirdD0g at 11:49 AM on April 13, 2004
The first thing I thought of when I read this thread was the scene in Douglas Coupland's Shampoo Planet, where the narrator - down and out in Hollywood and sick of working at a fast food joint - "invests" in a box of crayons and a pad of paper. Then he sets up shop on the Walk of Fame, camping out by the most famous stars, and sells rubbings of them to the tourists for $5 a pop. (Obviously this is location-specific, but I always thought the idea was cool.)
Okay, here's another one - and I don't remember where I read it so I can't credit it, unfortunately - but the idea is to buy a can of white reflective paint, some brushes, and a set of 0-9 number stencils. On a weekend, walk through an affluent neighborhood and knock on doors, offering to paint the house number on the curb for the residents for $10. Takes you maybe a minute to do with very little outlay, and it's a safety service no one would think of but really quite helpful - so emergency vehicles find a house more easily if they ever had to, since sometimes house numbers are a real pain to find and in an emergency obviously time is of the essence.
Damn, now that is going to bug me all day, where did I read that?
posted by Melinika at 12:04 PM on April 13, 2004
Okay, here's another one - and I don't remember where I read it so I can't credit it, unfortunately - but the idea is to buy a can of white reflective paint, some brushes, and a set of 0-9 number stencils. On a weekend, walk through an affluent neighborhood and knock on doors, offering to paint the house number on the curb for the residents for $10. Takes you maybe a minute to do with very little outlay, and it's a safety service no one would think of but really quite helpful - so emergency vehicles find a house more easily if they ever had to, since sometimes house numbers are a real pain to find and in an emergency obviously time is of the essence.
Damn, now that is going to bug me all day, where did I read that?
posted by Melinika at 12:04 PM on April 13, 2004
I use Haloscan, BirdD0g. The only major drawback is that they only archive comments for a short period of time (maybe three months). If you don't mind that, it should work well for you.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:07 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:07 PM on April 13, 2004
Sorry, my bad, white reflective spray paint. A lot easier than hauling around a can of paint and a brush.
posted by Melinika at 12:08 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by Melinika at 12:08 PM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: Here you go Melinika...
OVER 100 EXCELLENT PART-TIME BUSINESSES
It's a strange idea. I have the feeling it would bother people for one reason or another.
posted by BirdD0g at 12:31 PM on April 13, 2004
OVER 100 EXCELLENT PART-TIME BUSINESSES
It's a strange idea. I have the feeling it would bother people for one reason or another.
posted by BirdD0g at 12:31 PM on April 13, 2004
BirdDog, ditch blogger. I'll setup a Movable Type weblog for you, nothing fancy, but with comments and the ability to archive it a little better. email me using the feedback form at drumblog.com
posted by mkelley at 12:44 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by mkelley at 12:44 PM on April 13, 2004
BirdD0g, would you like to be a guest on a nationally syndicated public radio show that I work for?
This would be right up their alley (the show is about giving advice to small biz and following the american dream). My email addy is in my profile.
posted by Mick at 1:13 PM on April 13, 2004
This would be right up their alley (the show is about giving advice to small biz and following the american dream). My email addy is in my profile.
posted by Mick at 1:13 PM on April 13, 2004
Another couple suggestions:
1. Beer pong tournaments. Some around here offer some cash prizes.
2. Road race. Some will have cash prizes for age categories. More work/training than I'm guessing you would want to put in.
3. Golf ball hitting contest. Could be the next "Happy Gilmore". Golf clubs would be necessary, but you might find some used for cheap or rentals. $1 a ball says I can drive it further.
4. Baseball card trading. Not sure of such a high return within the one year time.
posted by brent at 1:19 PM on April 13, 2004
1. Beer pong tournaments. Some around here offer some cash prizes.
2. Road race. Some will have cash prizes for age categories. More work/training than I'm guessing you would want to put in.
3. Golf ball hitting contest. Could be the next "Happy Gilmore". Golf clubs would be necessary, but you might find some used for cheap or rentals. $1 a ball says I can drive it further.
4. Baseball card trading. Not sure of such a high return within the one year time.
posted by brent at 1:19 PM on April 13, 2004
Or you could build yourself a $14 Steadicam and shoot yourself a short movie.
Charge admission, Little Rascals-style, and that ought to turn you a double sawbuck, easy.
posted by chicobangs at 1:25 PM on April 13, 2004
Charge admission, Little Rascals-style, and that ought to turn you a double sawbuck, easy.
posted by chicobangs at 1:25 PM on April 13, 2004
ok ok , party continues at meta. sigh
p.s. Im a poker fiend
p.p.s I'm a small-business tycoon
p.p.p.s birddog need money? ask for real suggestions not $14 shit. I would have been very glad to help you there.
posted by ac at 1:39 PM on April 13, 2004
p.s. Im a poker fiend
p.p.s I'm a small-business tycoon
p.p.p.s birddog need money? ask for real suggestions not $14 shit. I would have been very glad to help you there.
posted by ac at 1:39 PM on April 13, 2004
Response by poster: ac–
Like I said, I have a career that pays the bills. The point of this experiment is take a small amount of money and – through ingenuity and a little work – make it into a relatively large sum of money.
The challenge, IMO, will be to find new ideas as the money grows. Selling lemonade may get me from $14 to $20, but it's not likely to get me from $500 to $650 as easily. I'm looking at this as a game or hobby. If you are able to look at it from that perspective, I'm totally open to any suggestions you might have.
posted by BirdD0g at 2:36 PM on April 13, 2004
Like I said, I have a career that pays the bills. The point of this experiment is take a small amount of money and – through ingenuity and a little work – make it into a relatively large sum of money.
The challenge, IMO, will be to find new ideas as the money grows. Selling lemonade may get me from $14 to $20, but it's not likely to get me from $500 to $650 as easily. I'm looking at this as a game or hobby. If you are able to look at it from that perspective, I'm totally open to any suggestions you might have.
posted by BirdD0g at 2:36 PM on April 13, 2004
This is a really fun question! I don't really have any suggestions that haven't already been posted; I just wanted to say thanks for posting a cool question; the answers posted already are really creative and interesting.
posted by litlnemo at 4:59 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by litlnemo at 4:59 PM on April 13, 2004
And I was distracted while posting that. I don't usually overuse semicolons to that extent.
posted by litlnemo at 5:01 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by litlnemo at 5:01 PM on April 13, 2004
ac - this is a great Ask.Me post that makes perfect sense here and your response was completely disporportionate even to your perceived "crime."
birdd0g - do you have a laptop and wireless ethernet card? Go sit outside of an Apple Store or other free wireless provider and rent out access via your computer. In the spirit of good karma and "not-being-an-asshole," I'd recommend charging a reasonable price.
If you really feel like you need to spend money to justify the project, a: invest in the materials needed to make a sign, b: instead of a free provider find one that charges - airports are out, but tons of cafes bill anywhere from $7/hour to $6/day.
I write for a lot of places that also might be interested in covering this. Hmmm.
posted by Sinner at 5:30 PM on April 13, 2004
birdd0g - do you have a laptop and wireless ethernet card? Go sit outside of an Apple Store or other free wireless provider and rent out access via your computer. In the spirit of good karma and "not-being-an-asshole," I'd recommend charging a reasonable price.
If you really feel like you need to spend money to justify the project, a: invest in the materials needed to make a sign, b: instead of a free provider find one that charges - airports are out, but tons of cafes bill anywhere from $7/hour to $6/day.
I write for a lot of places that also might be interested in covering this. Hmmm.
posted by Sinner at 5:30 PM on April 13, 2004
$14 to $20. It's all about Candy. Seriously, it might be like high school but if you buy a case of blowpops at a warehouse store like Sam's Club / Costco, you'll be able to charge a perfectly reasonable 25¢ per blowpop (that comes with candy and gum!!). You'll double your original investment.
If you're a student, which I assume you are from your address on State Street in Madison, Wisc., then this is easy and fast. It'll take you a couple days to get known as the guy (or gal?) with candy. But then it'll take you a few days to make back your original investment and only a few days more to rake in some profit.
Now getting from $28 to $50 and from $50 to $1000 is considerably harder. Especially without much work. I'd buy a used paperback (or just look on line) for some poker strategy and get to work taking other people's hard earned money.
That's not a business, though, so to make it interesting you could add the "rule" that you'll have to buy something with each round of profit. Then you'll sell that. This way, you'll keep with your original goal to *invest* the money, instead of just bluffing your friends out of $50 per weekend.
posted by zpousman at 7:27 PM on April 13, 2004
If you're a student, which I assume you are from your address on State Street in Madison, Wisc., then this is easy and fast. It'll take you a couple days to get known as the guy (or gal?) with candy. But then it'll take you a few days to make back your original investment and only a few days more to rake in some profit.
Now getting from $28 to $50 and from $50 to $1000 is considerably harder. Especially without much work. I'd buy a used paperback (or just look on line) for some poker strategy and get to work taking other people's hard earned money.
That's not a business, though, so to make it interesting you could add the "rule" that you'll have to buy something with each round of profit. Then you'll sell that. This way, you'll keep with your original goal to *invest* the money, instead of just bluffing your friends out of $50 per weekend.
posted by zpousman at 7:27 PM on April 13, 2004
In this book, The Interesting Narrative by Olaudah Equiano, the author has a few coins. He buys a glass tumbler and sells it. He returns home, buys two, sells them. He continues. He eventually bought his freedom. At the time of his death, he had amassed a considerable fortune.
posted by philfromhavelock at 7:44 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by philfromhavelock at 7:44 PM on April 13, 2004
I was the "candy guy" in High School. For the 2 weeks before the man came down on me I brought in a little over $350 on a $20 outlay (of course I had a captive audience so I charged a premium).
posted by Mick at 8:18 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by Mick at 8:18 PM on April 13, 2004
Oh - also, with summer approaching (or here, at least, in LA) try something some friends and I had considered - buy a box of those icee-pop frozen water thingies (you get about 50 per box, iirc) and sell em for $.50 apiece. Easier sell than candy, if you ask me.
posted by Sinner at 9:01 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by Sinner at 9:01 PM on April 13, 2004
You're from Madison, so take the book selling idea to the next level -- buy used textbooks and sell them on Amazon. A higher profit margin there, IMO.
posted by o2b at 9:13 PM on April 13, 2004
posted by o2b at 9:13 PM on April 13, 2004
I don't want to chill. I want this turd to get out of ask mefi.
Sorry, we forgot you own the place.
posted by tomorama at 9:38 PM on April 13, 2004
Sorry, we forgot you own the place.
posted by tomorama at 9:38 PM on April 13, 2004
Here's what you do: get a credit card. Then take the credit card to home depot if you have a car. If you don't, get a friend to (you can pay him some part of the $14). Now, use the credit card to buy as many rugs as you can at $20 a piece. Then, take them to a college on the day when the freshman move in. Sell the rugs to the freshman/their parents (this is easier cause they want to prove their kids still need them) for $50-$60. Return the unsold ones (home depot gives you cash on return). Use the combination of the returned money and the gross to pay the credit back to zero and cancel it. You should be left with around $1000 by my experiments and my friends, and you took on zero risk (the rugs are returnable for their full price) and you might even have some of the $14 left depending how well you managed capital outlays (ie how did you bribe your friend with the car, how many snapples did you drink while you were selling the rugs).
Credit to my friend anthony for inventing this ingenious plan, but a couple of us have done it with less than $14 and each made around $1000, and it only takes a day. Forget a year.
ps - Khalad is totally wrong. Ever here of arbitrage?
posted by jeb at 4:18 AM on April 14, 2004
Credit to my friend anthony for inventing this ingenious plan, but a couple of us have done it with less than $14 and each made around $1000, and it only takes a day. Forget a year.
ps - Khalad is totally wrong. Ever here of arbitrage?
posted by jeb at 4:18 AM on April 14, 2004
Unless you think you can sell 12 CDs for more than 40 dollars
You'd actually have *16* CDs (the 12 for a penny, plus the four you bought) to make the 40 (or 60) dollars. I think you could easily get $4 each plus shipping for brand new CDs.
posted by jpoulos at 12:03 PM on April 14, 2004
You'd actually have *16* CDs (the 12 for a penny, plus the four you bought) to make the 40 (or 60) dollars. I think you could easily get $4 each plus shipping for brand new CDs.
posted by jpoulos at 12:03 PM on April 14, 2004
Response by poster: Actually, the deal I was thinking of is 12 for the price of one – 7 for a penny, buy 1 at regular price, get 4 more free. I think when all said and done it costs about $40 for the 12 discs due to a lot of S&H costs.
posted by BirdD0g at 12:41 PM on April 14, 2004
posted by BirdD0g at 12:41 PM on April 14, 2004
I think you could easily get $4 each plus shipping for brand new CDs.
Not if they're from a club. Used CD stores don't like buying club merchandise and club stuff usually says righ on the back where they're from.
posted by dobbs at 4:49 PM on April 14, 2004
Not if they're from a club. Used CD stores don't like buying club merchandise and club stuff usually says righ on the back where they're from.
posted by dobbs at 4:49 PM on April 14, 2004
Wow... I am honored to be the leading naysay banner atop your site. Very nice-looking site, by the way; you should just sell your web design services. This whole idea is incredibly stupid. This isn't going to prove anything... anyone can find a way make a few bucks, with or without pointless "$14" restrictions. If you can make $1,000 into $71,000, then that would truly be amazing.
posted by ac at 1:07 PM on May 3, 2004
posted by ac at 1:07 PM on May 3, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
I guess what you could do is spend the $14 on art supplies and make something. Theoretically you'd be able to create something worth more then the supplies themselves. But then again considering the time you'd put in it, you wouldn't be making any money really.
Ever thought of drug running?
posted by geoff. at 7:29 AM on April 13, 2004