Name: Quentin Lawrence
Hometown: Newport, R.I.
I make an extra $400 a year just from finding vacuum cleaners left on curbs in nearby neighborhoods -- and then selling them on Craigslist.
It started out when I would drive around and see all of these things people leave outside their homes. I guess vacuum cleaners are just really popular to get rid of, because that's mostly what I found.
So I started stopping and looking to see what condition the vacuums were in, and it turns out usually they need nothing more than to be emptied out. Or, they have a belt that's broken, so I can just get a cheap belt and resell the vacuum for 25 to 30 bucks.
They move pretty quickly when I put them up on Craigslist, so it's an easy way to make a little income on the side. But since I can't fit a lot in my car right now, I'm actually in the process of getting a van. That way I can start picking up bigger items like furniture and make even more money.
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