Owing money is an integral part of life for most people. Whether it’s a home-loan, car finance or a credit card balance hanging over your head like the Sword of Damocles, there's always a way to reduce debt, without major lifestyle changes. Starting a low start-up cost home-based business that doesn’t take up too much of your time is a good way to earn a second income and get back in the “black”.

Here are three great debt-killers...

1. Rubber swings

They’re hard to find and not everyone can make their own – rubber tyre swings for kids. If you can make and sell 10 swings a day at R100 each from a roadside stall and to shops, nurseries, garages etc. you could make a gross profit of R30,000. Deduct salaries for two staff members, the cost of nylon rope and fuel and you could easily be pocketing R20,000 per month clear!

TIP: A law is about to be passed on scrap tyres where anyone recycling old tyres receives a subsidy. Bonus – you get your tyres for free from a tyre dealer or fleet owner! Call the SA Tyre Recycling Process Co: (011) 792-0359 to get more info on forthcoming subsidies and where to get old tyres.

2. Airtime voucher printers

Cell phones are probably the most universally used tech gadget in South Africa. And most of them are on “pay-as-you-go” vouchers. You can become an “airtime mogul” supplying airtime vouchers to the public. The machines look like a “credit card swipe machine” and are powered by cell technology so they can work anywhere, wirelessly. Call Afropay on (021) 421-5094 (or www.afropay.co.za) to rent a fully mobile machine for R275 per month (excl VAT). Your profit will come from discounts offered to you buy the tel/cell phone companies on air time sales. These discounts vary, but 10% is the average – you rent one machine, put it in a high traffic zone with an operator and sell 100 x R55 Vodacom vouchers per day, you’ll gross R550. Deduct salary of R150 per day plus machine rental and you’re looking at a net profit of R11,685.50 per month...

3. Kids on DVD

Most parents work and never get to see their kids progressing at their extramural activities, be it ballet, soccer, tennis etc. This is where you can help. Hire a student with a motorbike or car to be your cameraman. Equip him with a DVD Handycam (available at Makro or HiFi Corporation for approx R3,000) and get him to film match days, coaching sessions, swimming galas, concerts, etc.

In the meantime, you contact the school office to introduce your video production services. Ask for parents’ contact details, put up posters in the school and advertise in the school newsletter. Supply your cameraman with business cards to hand to the kids. If you can record five events a week, capturing a total of 60 kids, that’s 60 DVD sales per week at R75 per DVD = R18,000 per month gross profit. Deduct the cameraman’s salary (R5,000), DVDs (R2,000), marketing/phone (R1,000) and you’re R10,000 the richer!

To beat debt you need a plan. These three “part time” business ideas, if managed with enthusiasm and discipline, will not only get you out of the red, but will help you build a growing asset base.

Good luck!