A dwindling bank account, debt accumulation, the increased cost of living, and the desire to save money, are all circumstances that push the need for extra money. Particularly at this time when the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on personal finances, many people are looking for ways to put a few extra dollars into their wallet.
In this article, we answer the question ‘how to make extra money,’ whether or not you have a 9 to 5.
Let’s take a look at the details.
Explore the 14 ways how to make extra money
1. Freelancing
Thanks to digitization, there are myriad freelance opportunities that can get you extra money on sites like Upwork, LinkedIn, and 99designs. You can easily apply for tasks in writing, content development, programming, accounting, and many more. The list is endless.
In most cases, you only need the basic skills required in your desired field. To further hone your skills and get more competitive gigs, you can enroll in free online courses and follow influencers in your industry. Doing so will help you scale up as soon as possible and increase your rates with all confidence.
And the best thing?
Freelancing is a remote job, giving you the flexibility you need to do other things.
2. Blogging
Do you ever find yourself writing about your experiences, everyday situations, and generally, things affecting society? Turns out, you can gain extra money by being a blogger.
Conventionally, bloggers published on their websites as a hobby. Fast forward to today, blogging is a lucrative money-making opportunity. Being that it involves documenting and self-publishing write-ups, photography, and other forms of media for personal or business purposes, it is one of the easy ways to make extra money.
How do you start blogging?
The first step to being a blogger is to choose a niche that tickles your fancy. Create content and publish it on your website. Only publish high-quality content that adds value to your target audience. Being consistent will also help your blog gain a following, where you can leverage affiliate marketing to make money. Direct sponsorship from brands that want you to advertise their products and services will also earn you extra money.
3. Tutoring Services
Are you book smart? Tutoring might be a good gig for you, especially if you have a passion for sharing your knowledge. If you have any experience as a teacher, maybe from your past job or volunteering, this may be great for you too.
So, how can one earn extra money from offering tutoring services?
- Pick a subject you are good at, and brush up on it if you need to. Gather all the material required to teach effectively.
- Next, look for people who need your services. You can do this by placing ads both off and online. Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are also great resources to find clients.
- For professionalism purposes, you can set up a website that includes your recent photo, biography, qualifications, services you offer, and your rates. You may add testimonials as well if you have some.
- Interact with other tutors. This allows you to keep up with the industry and gain more exposure. For instance, you can register on Tutor Hunt for free.
4. Rent out unused spaces
Renting out unused spaces in your house is a great way to easily make money on the side. It also helps you save up on rent.
Here are some ways to go about it.
- Bring in a housemate or two
- Rent out any empty room you may have, for instance, on Airbnb
- Put up your home for rent if you have somewhere else you can stay
- Host a foreign exchange student
- Rent out storage spaces such as outbuildings, garages, and basements
- Put up your parking space for rent
- Give up your space for a day or so for filming purposes. You can do this on Set Scouter.
5. Driving gigs
Driving gigs are a good source of extra money. If you have a car, you can choose any of the driving gigs listed below:
- Register your vehicle on sites like Uber, Lyft, and Hyrecar for ridesharing
- Rent your car out on Turo or Getaround
- Advertise products and services on your car
- App-based delivery
- Drive people around
6. Pet walking
In a bid to maintain animal health, pet owners want their pets taken out for a walk. If you have free time and you love pets, this is a chance to earn extra money. It is a flexible money-making opportunity you can do in your free time. You can find people in need of such services by posting on sites like Petsitter.
7. House cleaning
House cleaning is another service that can boost your income. If you have busy neighbors, you can request to clean their homes. Lawn mowing, shoveling snow, or raking leaves, are outdoor house cleaning services you can also offer. You can work for a few hours a day three or five times a week to gain extra money.
8. Start a fitness club
If you are a fitness enthusiast and you are pondering how to make money on the side, starting a fitness club is a viable option.
Nowadays, healthy living is at the top of people’s minds; and people are ready to pay for it. Starting a fitness club offers an opportunity for people to achieve their body and fitness goals. Learn how to be an instructor and leverage this money-making opportunity. Do this by offering private lessons and motivating people to lose weight.
9. Yard sales
Is there anything in your basement and garage that you have not used for almost 12 months? You can earn good money from a garage sale of these second-hand materials.
Old books, for instance, are easily sellable. Find out how much they cost using the book scouter website then sell them at a discount. If you happen to love the idea, you can also buy books at wholesale prices and re-sell them.
10. Photography
If you have an eye for art and have an iPhone, for example, you can use the Foap app to earn extra money. All you need is to download the app and start taking pictures. The app’s developers will accept them as long as they are of good quality. When people visit their sites and download them multiple times, you can earn an honorarium from that. Additionally, you can post pictures on websites like Shutterstock, Fotolia, or Photoshelter and earn extra money.
11. Shopping
Did you know that you can shop for people and earn additional income?
Websites like Mystery Shopping Providers Association offer legitimate opportunities for people to shop for others. You can deliver groceries and run other local errands. Once you deliver the goods, you will be paid.
12. Be a test subject
Researchers need to do clinical trials from time to time, and they need healthy people to do their drug tests on. Being a test subject on a clinical trial is one way to earn extra money.
You may learn more about this by checking out clinical trials near you or in any location of your preference. Although most of these tests are safe with mild or no side effects, it is important to check with a health expert before going ahead with it, just to be on the safe side.
13. Street sales
It’s easy for you to earn extra money on street sales in cities where large events and festivals happen. To make extra money on the side, you can sell water and snacks to the attendees. It is a great opportunity as you can join in on the festivities. Walking up and down is also a chance to work out.
14. Write a short book
If you are a talented writer, apart from freelancing jobs, you can write a short book. This is a long-term money-making opportunity for the more ambitious writer or blogger. You can get it published as an eBook on Kindle.
The ebook market is huge since Kindle is available virtually on every platform. You can list your book for $2 — $10 and get paid 70% of the sale. Once your book is published online, you can earn extra money for years. Guidebooks and tutorial books on any non-fictional niche can sell quite well.
How to make extra money in 2021: The final verdict
These are only a few of the best ways to make extra money. Hopefully, they give you viable options on what you can do to earn some extra cash on the side.
If you have still not found a money-making opportunity that suits your lifestyle, you can always use your imagination and think of ways you can earn extra money from doing something that you love.
Jul 07, 2015
Jul 07, 2015