There are lots of ways to make some extra cash on the side. Whether you want to start a blog, sell crafts, run a virtual assistant service, or even become a freelancer, there are plenty of options out there.
Here are 16 ways to make a lot of money without another full-time job or degree.
1. List Your Spare Bedroom (or Backyard Tent) for Rent
Airbnb is one of the most popular ways to travel around the world. If you’re looking for a place to crash while traveling, there are plenty of options out there. But what if you want to turn your house into a short-term rental? You might be surprised how much it could earn you.
In fact, according to CNBC, people renting out their homes via Airbnb earned $2 billion in 2017 alone. And that doesn’t include the revenue generated from travelers booking vacation rentals.
If you decide to list your spare room or backyard tent for rent, here are some things to keep in mind:
• Make Sure Your Home Is Up To Code
Before you start advertising your spare room or backyard, make sure your home meets local building codes. This includes making sure doors and windows open and close properly, and that electrical outlets work.
• Provide All Amenities Guests Would Find At A Hotel
You don’t want to surprise guests with a dirty kitchen sink or a broken toilet. Before you host, check that everything works, like lights, heaters, air conditioning, and plumbing.
2. Build a Freelance Business
If you haven’t already considered freelancing in your spare time, now might be a good time to start thinking.
You can create a variety of freelance jobs as a writer, editor, graphic design, transcriptionist, artist, tutoring, photographer, social media management, programmer, and/or even a freelancer for websites.
You get to set your own hours, choose your clients, dictate your rates, and pick up where you left off whenever you want.
How much can you make?
How much you earn depends on how often you want/need to work and how much per hour you’re willing to charge.
You may decide to pursue freelance career either part‐time or full time. As long as you don’t mind doing so at any given moment, there is no set schedule for starting a freelance career.
3. Find Unclaimed Money From the Government
State treasuries across America are holding billions of dollars in uncollected funds. In fact, according to the National Association of State Treasurer’s Office, $1 trillion in unclaimed assets are held by states. If you think you might be one of those people, check with the National Association of States United For Unclaimed Property to see if there’s any unclaimed money in the state where you live.
The organization provides information about how to claim unclaimed money, including tips on searching online for unclaimed money in your name. You can even use the site to file a missing person report.
4. Invest in Real Estate Online
Want to try real-estate investing without playing landlord? We found a company that helps you do just that.
Okay, so if you want to start investing in real estate but you’re not sure where to begin (and you don’t have $100k), then an online platform might be perfect for you. Fundrise has created a starter portfolio that costs $500 – which means you can start investing today! Through the Fundrise Starter Portfolios, your money will be divided into two separate portfolios that support private real estates in different parts of the country.
It’s not an obscure investment; you can see exactly which properties you own. They include things like a condo in Seattle, Washington, or apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina, for example.
How much can you make?
You can make money by receiving quarterly dividends and potential appreciation in the share price, just like stocks. Typically, cash flows come from interest paid and rental income and can become passive income .
But keep in mind that investments come with risks. While Fundrise has been paying dividends every quarter since 2014, there’s no guarantee that they’ll continue to do so.
5. Flip Garage Sale Finds and Craigslist Freebies
Flip a few things at garage sales and thrift stores and you could earn some extra money. But it takes work to find those hidden gems. And don’t forget about eBay. Here are 13 ways to score free stuff at garage sales and thrifts.
1. Thrift Stores
2. Garage Sales
3. Ebay
4. Facebook Marketplace
5. Yard Sales
6. Flea Markets
7. Craigslist
8. Freecycle
9. Goodwill
10. Salvation Army
11. Antique Shops
12. Estate Sales
13. Local Charity Events
6. Earn Money Shopping Online
Online shopping is one of the most popular activities people do online. In fact, it’s become such a big part of our lives that we often forget how much money we make while doing it. If you want to start earning some extra cash, here are five different ways to earn money shopping online.
From clothes to toiletry items and gift ideas, we spend lots of money online. There are websites that allow us to make money and get discounts while shopping online. Some of these include Rakuten, SwagBucks, and MrRebates, but there are so many others. Remember to shop around and compare prices before purchasing something. You should also check if you qualify for any rebates or promotions offered by your favorite stores.
7. Babysitting
Parents are always looking for ways to cut down on costs and save money. One way to do this is to babysit your child. If you want to earn some extra cash, consider offering your services to parents. This is especially true during the summer months. Many families have kids home from school and don’t know what to do with themselves. There are many parents who need someone to watch their kids while they go out on dates or attend parties. You can offer to babysit for free or charge a small fee.
You might find it easier to start off by making sure that you’re registered with Care.com. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to post jobs and set up profiles where potential clients can view your profile and see whether you meet their needs.
If you decide to take on a client, you’ll need to check with your state’s department of labor to ensure that you aren’t violating any laws regarding employment. In most states, you won’t need a permit to work as a babysitter. However, you will need to register with the state agency that handles licensing for childcare providers. Some states require licenses; others don’t. Check with your local government to learn about requirements.
Once you’ve found a few people who need your services, you’ll need to determine how much you think you can charge per hour. You can use sites like PayScale.com to figure out what hourly rates other professionals in your area are charging. Then, you can adjust your prices accordingly.
8. Dog Sitting
By Mike MichelsonIn DaycarePosted April 21, 2020
Pet sitting is an easy way for travelers to make some extra money during their trip. Whether it’s a quick stopover or a weeklong vacation, there are plenty of ways to earn some extra income. And one of those ways is pet sitting. If you’ve ever had a dog yourself, you know how much fun it is to watch him run around a park or go for a walk. So why not turn that into a job? You’ll find many opportunities online to offer pet sitting services. Some people even charge per hour, others per day, and still others per week. But regardless of what type of arrangement you choose, here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a potential pet sitter.
1. Find someone local
If you want to ensure that your pet gets proper attention, look for someone nearby. This person needs to be able to check up on your pet every few hours, feed her/him, clean out his/her litter box, and generally provide basic care.
2. Make sure he/she knows about dogs
You don’t want to hire a stranger who doesn’t understand the special relationship between humans and animals. Ask questions such as “Do you have experience working with pets?” and “What do you think of my dog?”.
3. Do background checks
Before hiring anyone, do a little research on the individual. Check references and see if the person has been involved in any legal issues. Also, ask friends and family members if they’d recommend the individual.
9. Running Errands
If you have a vehicle or have easy (or free) public transport available, consider offering to drive someone somewhere if they don’t have their own means of transport or know where they want to go, especially if it’s something simple like going grocery shopping or doing some light housework. Senior citizens, new moms, and even small business owners will appreciate the helping hand. You might be surprised at what kind of services you can provide to others. Check out job boards, social networks, and websites to see if there are any opportunities available in your area.
Delivery apps, such as Postmate and UberEats, offer flexible schedules so that you can choose when and where you want to work. You also usually keep 100% of the tip.
10. Selling art on Instagram
Instagram has become the No.1 social media platform for artists, according to a recent study conducted by ArtSlant.com. This is great news for beginning creatives because you don’t need a big name critic to tell you what’s good or bad about your work. You just need to build a following and start selling.
The site found that nearly half of those surveyed use Instagram to sell their artwork. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to make money online without having to invest thousands of dollars into expensive marketing campaigns.
Artists are able to reach fans directly, making sales easier than ever. Plus, there are no middlemen involved, meaning you’re getting paid straight away.
11. Teaching art online or face-to-face
If you’re the proactive type of student, don’t worry about finding students. You just need to decide whether you want to teach people who aren’t really interested in art, or if you prefer students who actively pursue their artistic growth.
Teaching face-to-face
If you look closely at your local communities, you might be surprised to see just how many different ways there are for you to earn extra income through creative pursuits. You might even find a way to create something unique and useful.
Here are some ideas for ways you can contribute to the community while gaining valuable skills and making money at the same time:
- If you offer art classes or one-day workshop for adults, children, or high school students in your local community center, you could be offering something they’d enjoy.
- Get together with other local artists to organize an art exhibit
- Create short, interactive art workshops at corporate events and private gatherings.
Teaching online
Online teaching can be a good way to reach a larger audience, but tutoring several students at once will be much harder online than in person.
If you want to earn some extra cash, another option is to turn your online courses into a form of passive revenue. You’ll need to create the content once, but it can generate income for you for several months or even several year.
How you can become an online art tutor:
- You could offer courses on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare.
- You could sell your own guide or tutorial on your own site or blog. They can be anything from videos, eBooks, steps-by-steps guides with images, etc..
- If you want to create your own YouTube channels, you could teach others about different art techniques.
Pros:
- One of the best ways to earn money doing something you already enjoy.
- A fun experience that will also provide lots of personal growth.
Cons:
- Creating a course can sometimes be difficult and time consuming, but have some patience.
12. Become a virtual assistant
A virtual assistant works remotely and sets his/her own hours. You can work from home, wherever you want. This type of job allows people to make extra money online without having to spend too much time working. Virtual assistants perform tasks such as taking messages, scheduling appointments, booking travel arrangements, shopping for products, writing letters, making calls, emailing clients, etc. They usually charge per project, depending on how much time it takes to complete the task. Depending on the skillset needed, some virtual assistants may be paid hourly while others may be paid based on a fixed price per project.
There are many different ways to become a virtual assistant. Some people start out doing odd jobs like transcribing audio files, proofreading documents, creating graphics, editing videos, and performing data entry. Then, once they gain experience, they move up to more complex projects. For example, someone could start off as a transcriptionist, and then eventually transition into customer support.
To find virtual assistant jobs, check out sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, PeoplePerHour, Guru, Remote.co, and Virtual Staff Finder.
13. Transcribe audio and video
If you’re trying to earn some extra cash by transcribing audio files, According to Indeed.com the average pay is about $17. On top of that, there are plenty of companies out there who need transcriptions made quickly.
There are several ways to find clients. One option is to sign up with a freelance marketplace such as Upwork.com or Fiverr.com. Another way is to ask friends and family members if they know anyone looking for someone to transcribe audio files. Finally, you could try posting ads on Craigslist.org.
14. Write online reviews
A growing number of online businesses and startups today hire people to do nothing but write them reviews about their goods and/or services. Some sites offer rewards to those who complete these tasks, others give paid incentives for leaving positive reviews. You can check out sites like Survey Junkie and inboxdollars, and read how they are helping people get paid to leave positive reviews and earn cash!
There are some websites where users earn rewards by completing surveys and writing reviews. Others offer users reward programs where they earn rewards for each review or survey they complete.
15. Start a blog
If you’re looking to earn some extra cash while still keeping up with your day job, starting a blog might be just what you need. Blogging isn’t easy, though; it takes time and effort to grow traffic and generate revenue. You’ll probably have to invest quite a lot of time into building your audience before you see any real financial rewards. Here are seven ways to make money from your blog.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing works like this: A merchant pays affiliates a commission whenever someone buys something via the link that the affiliate provides. Some merchants offer commissions based on the total amount spent, others on products purchased, and some even pay per lead generated.
2. Advertising
Advertising doesn’t necessarily mean paying to place ads on other people’s blogs. Instead, advertisers can partner with bloggers to promote their product or service directly. For example, if you run a travel blog, you might write about a certain hotel chain and include a short video review of one of their properties. In exchange, the hotel offers you free accommodations.
3. Courses
Blogging platforms such as WordPress and Tumblr allow you to sell courses on topics related to your blog. For example, if your blog focuses on web design, you can teach other designers how to improve their sites’ conversion rates.
16 Rent out items
Renting out items is an easy and convenient way to make some extra money. You don’t even need to set up shop. Just list what you’re renting out on sites like Airbnb, Taskrabbit, and eBay—and watch the money roll in.
There are many different platforms where you can rent out items. Here are just a few examples:
Taskrabbit – This site connects freelancers with local businesses looking for help around the house. For example, if you love taking care of pets, you could offer pet sitting services through Taskrabbit.
Craigslist – Craigslist is one of the most popular classifieds sites online. Whether you’re selling something old or buying something new, Craigslist offers a place to post free ads and sell locally.
Ebay – Want to sell stuff outside of Craigslist? Consider setting up an Ebay store. Sellers there range from individual crafters to professional sellers.
eBay Classifieds -Another option for selling things is eBay Classifieds. Sellers include individuals and small businesses.
In conclusion, if you have the right skills and knowledge, you can earn a lot of money without another full-time job or degree. All you need is a little bit of creativity, persistence, and determination. And if you’re willing to put in the work, you might even end up doing better than most people who go through college.
