How wonderful the world would be if you could make money from your credit cards. Well, you can. And here is how to do it.

Before we go on remember that if you hold debt on your cards – and you should have already transferred this debt to a card offering 0% on balance transfers – you must proceed with extreme caution. Getting rid of your debt is your prime concern. Do that first.

Also if you have been undisciplined with your cards in the past you need to change your ways. See cards as an investment. Handle them as you would cash.

First up, you need a bank account that offers the highest possible rate of interest and instant access to your money. You can look for the best current deals by visiting websites like www.moneysupermarket.com/currentaccounts/ and the money sections in the quality Sunday newspapers.

This account is where you will keep your money to pay off your credit card bill. You should look for an account that pays around 5%.

Now get yourself a credit card that offers an introductory rate of 0% on new purchases. The Sainsbury’s credit card is one that does this, offering new customers an interest-free period for 10 months.

The important thing is to ensure you pay the minimum off each month. The easiest way to ensure that you do this is to set up a direct debit from your bank account. (Your minimum payment is usually 2-3% of your balance.)

The beauty is that while your spending is swelling the balance owed on the credit card, your money in the bank is earning interest. This interest is your profit.

At the end of the agreed period of interest-free grace, you pay off the debt and never use the card again. You should destroy the card lest you are tempted to use it.

Or why not go one better and not pay off the debt? Why not simply transfer the debt on maxed-out card to another new card that offers 0% on balance transfers and 0% on purchases and then keep going?

The one problem you might encounter is that your credit rating will only allow you to take on so much debt. To circumvent this, apply for a few cards at the start of the exercise. Experts recommend applying for four in one go.

And so long as you are strict without yourself this master plan will work. Make sure you always have enough cash in your bank account to pay off the debt.

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I care about climate change, poverty, and a host of other issues. I donate money to charity, sign petitions, and attend fundraisers. But I also like adidas sneakers, iPods and the paycheques that allow me to buy them.

And I sadly admit, if I were forced to choose between financial security and being a crusader living off idealism, I would choose the former because there are aspects of my lifestyle I’m hard-pressed to give up.

But a new generation of Canadian entrepreneurs is combining activist passion with business acumen, and these young people have shown me they can push the social and environmental agenda without sacrificing the lifestyle they enjoy.

“You don’t have to compromise between making money or saving the world,” said Dev Aujla, 23, the man behind DreamNow, a project management company that oversees socially minded events and campaigns around the world. “I’ve done the activist thing and it’s phenomenal. But you need people working on the outside to bring down the system and you need people working in the system to change it from within.”

Since launching the company in 2003, Aujla and his team have been hired by individuals and organizations to spearhead projects ranging from the construction of orphanages in India to “Lights Out Canada,” an annual environmental awareness event where schools spend one day without artificial lighting.

DreamNow began like any other business venture – by identifying a need and creating a service to fill it. In high school, Aujla was an avid children’s rights activist and attended numerous conferences. He saw how people would be inspired to start new development and education projects, but had little idea how to get started. “They get pumped up and then they go home and nothing happens,” said Aujla.

By providing project planning, marketing and networking resources, Aujla’s business has launched hundreds of campaigns. He’s also making the money he wants to make, more than many of his friends who are fresh out of school and working in the corporate world, he said.

Toronto resident Zahra Ebrahim, 23, is an entrepreneur who grew up as a passionate environmentalist. After finishing her studies in urban systems and architecture at McGill University, Ebrahim felt the pressure to pursue wealth over her activist work. She managed to gain the best of both worlds by founding ArchiText, a design company that provides green, alternative engineering solutions in an effort to make buildings more eco-friendly and energy efficient.

“Many (people) thought I was playing roulette with my future,” she said.

The gamble paid off because Ebrahim has created the job of her dreams. She dictates her own salary, travels the world, and participates in projects she truly cares about, like filming a documentary about green architecture. And as Toronto aims to slash building emissions, Ebrahim and her team of designers appear to be in high demand.

As social and environmental issues continue to gain more public attention, the potential for social entrepreneurs increases. Dev Aujla recognizes this, which is why DreamNow is initiating a campaign to provide resources for aspiring businesspeople to get set up and connected with like-minded individuals. Even a guilt-ridden consumer like me has the potential to make something happen, said Aujla.

“From the person who just reads the Vanity Fair green issue, to the person who’s travelled abroad and worked … people are starting to ask the question `how do we make money and change the world?’” he said. “We’re starting to see the answers.” thestar