As the economic downturn puts pressure on the personal finances of citizens across the United States, many are selling their possessions in an attempt to make some extra money.

According to John Donahoe, the chief executive of online auction house eBay, consumers have an average of $3,200 worth of items sitting at home that they could sell.

He told USA Today that 1.3 million people currently make all of their money or take a secondary income from selling goods through the website.

And he predicts that over the coming months, as the financial crisis takes hold, the number of people using eBay to make money will rise further.

"People become more entrepreneurial in tough economic times," he explained.

In the UK, one woman has gone to extreme lengths to make money by offering eBay users the chance to bid on her name.

The highest bidder will be able to formally rename 37-year-old Eileen De Bont with a moniker of their choosing.

Another way of getting access to money in financial emergencies is to make use of pay day loans. Consumers can borrow small amounts to tide them over until their next pay check arrives.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------