15 Ways to Earn Extra Money

Like many of us, you may have found that you could use a little more money this year. Whether you’re trying to save, pay off debt or just make ends meet, some extra cash could go a long way. Have you thought about starting a side hustle?

If you’re looking to increase your income, a side hustle is a great way to earn some extra cash outside of your regular 9-5 by putting your skills, space, or expertise to work in your spare time.

There are plenty of ways to start a side hustle and get on your way to earning some extra income. Here’s a list we’ve put together of 15 ways you can earn some extra cash on the side.  

Go Remote:

Many well-known companies hire people to work remotely in a variety of part-time positions including customer service, data entry, web development, and sales. Workers on Board & Flex Jobs are sites that list available positions weekly that offer flexible, remote job opportunities that will allow you to work around your current schedule.

Become a Freelancer:

Use your experience and skills to earn some extra cash. Sites like Fiverr and Upwork connect freelancers with clients needing help with everything from writing projects to graphic design and social media management. You’ll create a profile outlining your experience, skills, and rates that potential employers can review and then book you on a per-job basis.  

Sell Your Old Stuff:

Got a closet full of clothes you don’t wear anymore? Attic and garage packed with things you don’t use? You can declutter and earn cash at the same time by selling your unwanted items on sites like Mercari, Poshmark and Offerup. They all make it easy to create a seller profile, upload a description and picture of the item and make it available to online shoppers and bargain hunters.

Become a Sitter:

Babysitting is not just for teens and is the perfect way to earn some quick extra cash. Parents love a good date night but often find it hard to secure a reliable and trustworthy sitter. Start by telling your family and friends that you are available. You’ll be surprised at how fast you’ll be booked. You can also use sites like care.com and Sittercity to expand your market and land jobs with others in your area.

Just like parents love their children and want to ensure they are properly cared for in their absence, they equally love their pets and want to ensure their care and safety as well. Cash in by offering dog walking, sitting, and boarding. Again, local advertising along with using sites like Rover can help you get clients and start making extra money.

Become a Delivery Driver:

Use your spare time and automobile to deliver take-out through companies like Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Doordash.

There are also numerous apps that you can sign up to deliver items besides restaurant food. Companies like Instacart, Shipt, and Amazon Fresh offer grocery shopping and delivery services. Roadie, a UPS-owned company, allows you to deliver packages around town, on your own schedule, while earning money on trips you are already taking.

Sell Your Photos:

Do you love taking pictures? Companies, bloggers and online marketers are always in need of images to use on their websites that follow copyright regulations, resulting in companies like Shutterstock and Deposit Photos constantly looking for copyright-free images to add to their portfolios.

Image quality does matter but the images could be of just about anything – nature, travel, food, or just random everyday shots – and could earn a few hundred bucks extra each month.

Do “tasks” for people in your area:

If you’re great at fixing things and putting things together, you can use your skills to earn money on TaskRabbit. As a “tasker” you will be connected to people in your area that need a little help with things like home repairs, furniture assembly, and simple errands. You will be paid by the task and are able to set your own rates.

Rent out your home:

Got an empty spare bedroom? You can rent it out for extra cash. Airbnb is the most popular option for doing this but you can also now be a “host” on com and VRBO. It can be a little scary to rent out your space to strangers but all three offer host protection insurance and accidental damage coverage.

Transcribe:

You can earn at least $20.00 per hour transcribing audio and possibly more if you have medical or legal experience on sites like TranscribeMe and SpeakWrite.

Mystery Shop: Why not get paid to shop? Mystery shoppers are hired by research companies to rate service in restaurants and stores across the country. You can find opportunities on Elite CXS and Market Force.  According to ZipRecruiter, mystery shopping can pay as much as $23 per hour.

Become an Online Tutor: You don’t have to be a teacher to be a tutor. Online companies like tutor.com, TutorMe and Studypool hire tutors and industry experts to work with students on a wide range of topics. You can work from anywhere and earn extra income while helping students succeed. 

Store other people’s stuff: Got Extra Space?  Maybe an empty garage, basement, or driveway? You can turn that unused space into cash. Neighbor allows you to list your available space for people in your area looking to store their belongings.

Watch Viral Videos & Take Surveys: Sounds too good to be true, right? But it’s not! Brands will pay for consumer input so you really can earn cash by watching videos and taking surveys.

Companies like Inbox Dollars, Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie have partnerships with a multitude of trusted brands and pay members for doing everyday online activities like watching videos, reading emails, taking surveys, and playing games. All you have to do is sign up online, confirm your email and start earning.

Join a Focus Group, Test Products and Participate in Research Studies: It is possible to get paid for your opinions. There are many research companies out there looking for individuals to test their products and provide feedback. You can earn between $40 - $200 testing a product.

User Interviews , Pine Cone Research, and Focus Group hire individuals to do market research by testing products and websites and then participating in group discussions and interviews.   

Advertise on Your Car: This is definitely different but an easy way to earn some passive income. Wrapify will pay you to advertise a company on your car. The more you drive, the more you earn and can bring in anywhere from $250-450.00 per month.

Side hustles are a great way to earn some extra cash but will require some work upfront to get going. It’s important to choose an idea that fits your abilities and availability to make it worth your while.