Seeing that times are hard for some, it could be a good idea to start your own business togethor with trading - locally if you are short of money. Lets have some ideas To kick off with an idea one could start one's own garden maintenance business with a few basic tools and those of the property owner eg lawn mower etc.
There are quite a few possibilities, most though require manual labor initially till you get a few customers then hire some workers. Mowing lawns, house cleaning, painting, hauling junk to the dump for people.
http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170532 This is a similar thread, you might find some ideas here.
you can post an advertisement in craigslist. Like a local man has done. Basically it says "hire me for $20 an hour"... trim trees, move furniture, fix this, help with that, clean here pick up there, help an ederly person with that...you get the idea..Basically he is yours for $20.00 an hour... this better come with a happy ending..
Reminds me of that Clint Eastwood cowboy film where he sets one leading power group against the other and collects both ways.
"hire me for $20 an hour"... Going way back, I'll never forget the customer who said "You should sharpen you pencil" when I quoted $20 an hour. Umnnn okay, "If you want a $10 an hour man, I can do that". He said that's not what "I meant". He knew and I knew I could work slower.