Some possibilities: Sell excess items you don't need on Ebay. (Short term fix)
Run free ads (Craigslist, local small papers) looking for cars, motorcycles, tractors or other motorized stuff that doesn't run or needs work. You may pick some up cheap or free and fix them, and re-sell them (On ebay or Craigslist). Ebay usually brings higher bucks.
Advertise for free removal of junk lawnmowers, tractors, motorcycles etc. You will get calls. Then you can fix it or scrap it or part it out.
Contact your local church and let them know you can do good, affordable auto and power equipment repair for those in need of repairs. You will have to charge less than local shops, but with less overhead, you can do so. Once you have a few happy customers, they will refer you to their friends, and you will get busy.
Run an ad for repair services (If the town won't interfere).
Start beating the bushes for any resalable item you are knowledgible about....find them, fix them, sell them. Your knowledge and ability enables you to do this. Start hitting the pavement finding the stuff, you can start bringing in money. I have done all of the above in times of need (And times of plenty).
I ran an ad looking for old snowmobiles one fall, and got so many calls my back yard was starting to fill up. I made out on that $29 ad.
As a note, Craigslist ads don't get as much response. Also, the viewers are all 'computer literate', and if they are, they often use Ebay as a price benchmark. If you advertise in print like newspapers, you get more folks that are 'pre-computer era' folks, and will be more likely to make a reasonable deal with them.
Who knows, you may get lucky and find an old Indian or Harley motorcycle worth 15K for cheap! Think 'barn-fresh'!
I have felt the finacial squeeze more than I care to remember, and it really is tough. Get out of the house and hustle, you will come through. Good luck to you. Hal
