Our economy is a sinking ship. Until a crane pulls it off the pit of the sea, we need to find more means to earn. But fret not, we have more options now – and it doesn’t take much to get set.We might as well be in the golden age of the internet. With the amount of information floating around, and the plethora of entertaining things to do, it’s continuously evolving and changing the way we live our lives. It allows us to do errands without exerting too much effort. We can now pay our bills, shop online, order pizza, and earn money without having to leave the comfort of your home.

So how do you use the internet to earn money?

In all things, the first step is to start with yourself. You are your most powerful weapon, after all. Utilize your talent to earn cash by taking up jobs online. The internet is no longer just a repository of information; it now provides an opportunity for those who do not have a full time desk job to work from home. There are many freelancing sites where you can write articles, design websites, and be a virtual assistant to an employer living on the other side of the world.If you love to write, you can set up a blog and put up pay-per-click ads to earn money.

Make the topics interesting, humorous and light to attract more readers and get more clicks.The next best thing is to set up an online business. All you need is your computer, a creative mind, and a good look around your house. Look for valuable items that you do not really use and put them up in eBay. That expensive 4-piece champagne flute set that never saw the light of day (in fear of being broken) may be better put to use by auctioning it up. Sell the clothes you don’t wear a lot or the gifts you never used.

This is the time to be practical, not sentimental. Mystery shopping is also one way to earn online, and fun too! There’s no other job that asks you to walk into a store, ask a few questions and shop around. Awesome, huh? You’ll then need to accomplish a report to evaluate the store’s customer service. Most companies that have this are in retail, restaurants and banks. But you haven’t heard the best part yet – the companies reimburse your expenses, and pay you a little extra!As you can see, the opportunities are endless. All it takes is a good head start. Look around you and be observant. Make a list of the things you enjoy doing and see how you can earn from them. Check your planner.

Analyze your strengths. Think of your hobbies. The things you once did for leisure may be your means to succeed.The key is to find something that you already have – and invest on it. Improve on it. With your skills and perseverance, making money online will be your lifeboat to our sinking ship.