• You can restore and sell used couches to earn money.Shana Novak/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  When you are low on money, it can be difficult to find a way to supplement the funds in your business or personal account. As you tackle a low-budget situation, look for ways that you can market your skills or take advantage of the knowledge that you already have.
  
  

Sell Stock Photos

• If you have a basic level of talent with a digital camera, you can sell your photos to stock-photo websites. These sites are used by design and advertising professionals that need imagery for their publications. Experiment with a wide range of subject matter to see which type of photo gets the most hits and purchases and then expand your collection in that direction. The Moola Days website recommends that you try istockphoto.com or fotegrafik.com. On both sites you upload your photos and receive a percentage of the sale each time a consumer purchases a download of your shot. For best results, shoot a range of angles and arrangements of each setting to offer alternate views to accommodate different layout styles.
  
  

Business Plan Competitions

• If you are looking to raise capital for a business venture, enter a business plan competition where individuals and groups propose business ideas and compete for funding. According to the Wall Street Journal, you can find contests that are sponsored by universities or large corporations. Choose a contest that will require a reasonable time investment. Consider ways that you can re-purpose existing materials for entrance into the contest; you might use an old business plan that you have updated to fit the theme of the contest, for example.
  
  

Sell Junk

• When you want to make extra money, sell junk that you find at thrift stores and garage sales. The CNN website recommends that you focus on a type of item that you know well. You will identify a quality piece when you see it, make any necessary restorations, and market it effectively to the people who might need it. If you are an artist, for example, you might focus on finding old frames and selling them to people who are looking for different ways to display their work. People who are familiar with furniture restoration can touch up bargain couches and sell them for a higher price. Sell your items online on websites like Ebay and Craigslist, and advertise them in local newspapers or online classifieds.