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More Unique Ways to Make Money While Traveling
Weave Palm Frond Hats or make people laugh
We are always looking to save another dollar so we can extend our stay but eventually the dollars run out and it's time to get creative. Here is another list of even more creative ways to make money while you are traveling.
Weave Palm Frond Hats: If you have a crafty bone and are traveling in the tropics, grab a palm frond and make something. Palm fronds are free, your only investment here is how long it takes you to pull one from the tree and weave it into something I can recognise.
Learning to make a palm frond hat does take some trial and error, so it may be best to buy one from your future competitor and dismantle to learn his secrets. Weaving this will take some practice but when you get good at it one hat can take a mere 20 minutes to make.
In my effortless research, I have discovered that very few in the online community want to divulge their tricks to weaving. You can however, buy a book with these very secrets from Amazon.com on How to Weave Palm Fronds
In any popular tourist area palm frond hats can go for $10-30 a piece depending on what type of people are coming through and how well you sell them.
I have a few photos here of a really nice guy weaving hats on Fort Lauderdale Beach. I honestly couldn't say I knew what he was saying half the time, but I think he has been at it 25 years. He makes enough to feed himself. And them he mentioned something about if he had a dollar for everytime someone took a photo of him, and then he trailed off. Anywho, it's a pretty cool way to be.
Dirty jokes for a dollar: Here is a treat witnessed while strolling the streets of Key West. The entrepreneur was a somewhat sloppy looking man perched on a bar stool in the middle of the sidewalk holding a cardboard sign which read: Dirty Jokes For A Dollar. Need Beer Money
With his motives clearly laid out, only two thoughts come to mind: What horrible thing has this man got to amuse me with? And, I hope he has change for a five.
After a not so formal hello, the transaction is made and he quickly enlightens with perhaps the most horrific Michael Jackson joke one has ever heard.
This was well worth a dollar and it does help if you have a few jokes to use in case you get a rough crowd. So if you have a dirty sense of humor, grab yourself a black marker and piece of cardboard and get advertising. The world needs humor.
Public Boogie-man: Speaking of Homeless guys who have found a niche, we also have a gentleman in San Francisco who scares people and somehow this pays his bills. While walking near Fisherman's wharf you will pass a trash can with a seemingly unsuspecting plant next to it. As you pass the plant a man hiding behind it makes a noise to scare passersby. "Boo!"
A quick realization that there is nothing to fear, the people involved and onlookers alike share a laugh which is followed by the homeless man shaking his tin cup as if you signed up for this and it is time to pay the piper.
After observing this homeless boogie man for some time it is clear he found a niche that works for him. Everyone got the joke and offered him something, be it change or paper.
While this idea is not going to make anyone rich, it did provide a genuine smile to those involved and you must give credit where it is due: this is creative and creativity is worth something.
So there you have it, just a few more ways to make a buck when your broke while abroad.
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About the AuthorMike has been traveling since 2005. Hobbies include staring at maps, drinking coffee and helping old ladies cross the street. Future trips include England and Australia. Mike Krebs professional photography information can be found here.