Like many people, you're probably worried about the current state of the economy and how you're going to have enough money to get through the rough period ahead.

Today, sudden expenses and bills that pop up unexpectedly can make managing your finances even harder

Wouldn't it be great to have a little extra cash on hand each month to cover these bills? Or a little extra money to put aside for the special things you want? Well, there is a solution for both and it's to create a second, "passive" income source. One that brings in just enough money to take the edge off your money worries, yet doesn't take away too much of your time from your regular job and daily routine.

Today, more and more people are earning that extra cash with a small Internet-based online business.

Now, I know what you're thinking. You've probably seen so many of these Internet money-making schemes in your email box that youthink the only people making money are those selling Internet courses!

Yes, they are making money. But so are thousands of others. Ordinary people who have a particular passion for something … whether it's a hobby, a sport, a collectible, or a favorite activity. Believe it or not, thousands have turned their passion into a truly profitable online business. One that brings in enough money on a monthly basis to give them the breathing room they need in today's tough economy.

Author and entrepreneur Nick Usborne is a good example. He's built a thriving web business around his love for coffee, of all things. His site offers helpful information on the best coffee makers, the health benefits of coffee, coffee drink recipes and more. Believe it or not, he's making a couple of thousand dollars a month just from this one site.

Nick offers a free report at http://www.awaionline.com/g6/moneymakingwebsites/

on how he set up his site and how you can do it, as well.

This probably isn't the first "how I made money online" report you've seen. Maybe you've even checked out a few online money-making courses but somehow haven't yet taken the plunge into an Internet business. There are a number of people who offer low-cost, easy-to-follow courses that can help you set up an online business quickly.

Jim Edwards offers a way to set up "mini" money-making websites without being a computer geek, or buying expensive software or having to pay outrageous fees to a webmaster.

Alexandria Brown offers her Online Success Blueprint in a Box that shows how any time-starved solo-preneur can use email and the Internet to leverage their business and create extra income on the side.

Bob Bly offers his Internet Marketing Retirement Plan, an easy to way to generate extra money that also requires very little work on your part to keep it going, once it's up and running.

These, together with Nick Usborne's approach, are all good first steps into the world of having a money-making web business. But here's the real secret:

It really doesn't matter which course you choose! Just pick one and get started. Most people who start and run a successful online business end up following the advice of many Internet marketers, not just one. But you have to start somewhere, and taking the first step is the most important one.

Having an Internet business is NOT an overnight, get rich quick scheme. It does take time. And you have to make a habit of tending to your Internet business like a garden – whether it's writing web pages, sending emails to your customer list, writing blog entries or articles – on an ongoing basis to make it work. But you can do as little as one hour of work each day and make huge progress towards creating a solid, steady second income. One that you can count on to make life easier and more enjoyable even in these tough times.

=====================================================================

Barnaby Kalan is an award-winning freelance copywriter and the author of Outsourcing Yourself: How to Turn Your Job Into a Business for Greater Wealth and Security. For a free chapter of his book, visit www.outsourcing-yourself.com

=====================================================================

Tags & Keywords : extra income, second income, extra cash, work from home