I'm currently deployed and have been using my spare time to read books on real estate investing; I've almost read the entire BP series! 

My experience: So I will try to keep this brief and spare the details unless someone wants me to elaborate further.

Should I try to work part time aa ann estimator for a construction company in my spare time? 

@Skip FriszMost of the mini splits (you can get them with a wall mounted head or with a compact air-handler).  

Even renting a spare room via internet opens options for extra cash.

@Mike Lambert no hard/hurt feelings left to spare after this bloody Monday lol Good luck in this market.

This is recording a main area camera 7x24 and the rest on motion detection.Note: The cameras are expensive to buy afterwards by itself, so I put up and angle 7 cameras to cover all sides allowing to keep 1 as a spare.

I have several spares in a storage building at my farm to do quick change outs.

For the walls...i forget what it's called, but like an almond color. i used semi gloss in all the living areas except bath and kitchen. i paint the bath in all the same color almond, except high gloss, and the kitchens i paint the same high gloss as the bath, except i paint the cieling gloss white. home depot has a glidden 440 alkyd paint that is tough and almost as good as old oil paints. i use the same colors for everything...In my last appartment renovation, i didnt have to buy a drop of paint, i used old paints i had that still worked...lol...I guess that makes me a landlord if i just have a garage full of old paint, countertops, mini blind spare parts, etc.

I work as a wildlife biologist now with a bunch of fisheries guys who still do some fishing charters in their spare time at some of the major fishing resorts.