LEARNING some skills outside of your full-time job can earn you some extra cash, or at least save you some money.

Shernette Roberts capitalised on training from the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) and now makes jams, jellies, and wines that she sells to people in her community.

The agency’s social services- home economics unit has officers who go into communities and teach the production of sauces, chutneys and wines and a number of different foods.

RADA offers the training, at no cost to you. They can also help with marketing, acting as a middle man between yourself and the buyer.

According to Beverly Barby-Collins, acting senior director of social services for the home economics unit, it takes up to two hours to learn the art of making the products that are made from natural fruits.

On average, Roberts says she makes $5,000 a month from selling the foods she produces.

The earnings could also be more, depending on the demand and the season of particular types of fruits.

For example, now may be the time to try your hands at mango chutney.

She sometimes sells to people visiting from overseas who want to the homemade, old-fashion jelly.

“When people visit from overseas, they want them to take back,” Roberts said. “It’s those instances that I have good business.”

Even if your day job doesn’t give you enough time to produce on a large scale, you’ll be in a good position to make money during seasons that drive certain demands.

Christmas means more than feasting, but it signals the time to do some thorough house cleaning. It’s the time when new curtains are raised for the new-year.

Agencies such as HEART Trust/NTA also offer programmes that many full-time workers bought into and are now making supplementing their regular income.

The drapery-making programme is one such area.

After completing the programme that costs $11,000 people have made up to $40,000, in one job according to Carine Hamilton, an instructor at the vocational training agency.

Of course, the cost of drapes increase when you opt for more expensive fabric.

Though you would need a sewing machine, it’s a worthwhile investment.

Checks by the Sunday Finance show that a basic domestic sewing machine can cost as much as $18,000. But don’t be dismayed; you also have the option of buying a used one for $7,500.

Completing programmes such as “interior soft accessories” could have you making cushions, table cloth, sheets, and shower curtain to name a few.

Furthermore, it’ll put you in a position to be called on to make items for special occasions such as weddings. You could even have a collection of items that you rent to caterers.

But the jam makers admit that a consciousness to eat healthy may strain their business.

On top of that, the part-time producers have to compete with entities that produce the items in volumes, making them able to offer competitive prices.

Still, there is a way to work around that.

Barby- Collins say some makers opt to produce them in small quantities and present them in baskets for sale.

“You have to compete with the companies that can produce them in volumes, so it’s advised that you don’t make too much,” she said. “Find creative ways to present the items.”

Furthermore, depending on what you learn to make, you could also cut some expenses.

Learning to make the items such as curtains and cushions obviously mean you no longer need to buy them.

Eleven years ago, George Allen (not his real name), opted to learn to tile his house himself rather than to pay and get the job done.

“I didn’t want to pay anybody so my wife and I went to HEART and learnt the trade,” he said.