Sometimes one income just isn’t enough. After my divorce I found myself in dire straits and in need of additional income to get me through the first couple of years. I had to find something that matched my skills and time available, but also didn’t leave me completely exhausted by the end of the day. If you’re thinking of looking to earn some extra income with a side hustle or second job, I’ve compiled some ideas on how you can make extra money to get your financial house in order. Or, just because you love making extra money and saving it!
As we all know, since the pandemic, making money from home is not just a dream; it’s a viable reality. Gone are the days when earning a living meant being chained to a desk in a traditional office setting, although many of us are still doing that as our main job. With the advent of technology and the rise of the gig economy, there are countless opportunities for us to earn income from the comfort of our own homes. Supplementing your current income is a great way to help you get out of debt or just to boost your savings, and there are plenty of legitimate ways to make money from home. So here you go, here are 24 ideas to help you increase your income potential.
- Rent Out Extra Space in Your Home: If you have unused space in your home, consider renting it out to travellers or those in need of storage. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO allow you to earn passive income by renting out your space on a short-term or long-term basis. You could also consider getting in touch with local post-secondary institutions to advertise your space to students.
- Sell Your Unwanted Stuff Online: Declutter your home and make money in the process by selling your unwanted items online. Think Marie Kondo, and how she transforms living spaces by cleaning up and chucking out! From clothing and electronics to furniture and collectables, there’s a market for almost everything. Check out sites such as Craigslist, Ebay, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, even your local library may have a noticeboard you can advertise on.
- Make and Sell Your Arts & Crafts: Turn your hobbies into a lucrative business by selling your handmade crafts at local farmers markets, craft fairs, or seasonal pop-up fairs at schools, etc. You can also use online platforms like Etsy and Shopify that make it easy to reach a wider—even international—audience and monetize your creative talents.
- Retail Arbitrage: I love this idea, especially if you love to shop (which I don’t, I just like the idea of making money this way). Growing up we used to watch reruns of a show called Steptoe and Son about a rag-and-bone man and his son. They used to ring the bell from their horse and cart and people would tell them to come and take away their old broken furniture and pianos. The concept is about buying low and selling high by scouring online marketplaces, retail stores or warehouse sales for discounted items that you can resell for a profit. There are many ways to sell the items again such as Marketplace or for a more fulsome business you could use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) which is a popular platform for selling your finds online. Oh, and if you haven’t seen Steptoe and Son, here’s ‘the very best of’ for your entertainment – it was remade in several countries because it was so good.
- Uber or Lyft Driver: Obviously, you’ll need to leave the house, meet their driver requirements and pass a background check, but then you download the app, and get your car (and driver’s license) ready to go. You don’t have to work specific shifts and you’re your own boss.
- Rent Out a Parking Spot: I live in Metro Vancouver and real estate is at a premium, ideal for this money maker. Consider maximizing your property’s earning potential by renting out your parking space to commuters and visitors in need of parking. Apps like Neighbor.com make it easy to list your space and start earning extra cash.
- Pet Sitting: Turn your love for animals into a profitable business by offering pet-sitting services to pet owners in your area. Platforms like Rover connect pet sitters with pet owners seeking reliable care for their furry friends.
- Take Online Surveys: Earn extra cash in your spare time by taking online surveys and participating in focus groups. Companies like Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie reward users for sharing their opinions on various products and services. I did a number of surveys and focus groups for a couple of years while I was scraping myself out of the post-divorce red zone. They were fun and in some groups I earned upwards of $150 for an hour or so of chatting. The only thing missing was a glass of wine and I would have been their most loyal attendee!
- Make Money Blogging or Vlogging: Share your expertise and passions with the world by starting a blog on topics you’re passionate about. Monetize your blog through affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and advertising revenue.
- Virtual Tutoring: Help students succeed academically by offering virtual tutoring services in subjects you’re knowledgeable about. Platforms like Wyzant and Tutor.com connect tutors with students seeking personalized instruction.
- Data Entry: Put your typing skills to work by offering data entry services to businesses in need of administrative support. Freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are great places to find data entry gigs.
- Freelance Writing: Flex your writing muscles and earn money as a freelance writer by producing content for websites, blogs, and publications. Platforms like Upwork and Textbroker connect writers with clients seeking quality content.
- E-books and Audiobooks: Share your knowledge and creativity with the world by writing and self-publishing e-books and audiobooks. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and Audible make it easy to reach a global audience and earn royalties on your work.
- Create Online Classes or Webinars: Share your expertise and skills with eager learners by creating online classes or webinars on topics you’re passionate about. Platforms like Udemy and YouTube provide tools and resources to help you create and monetize your content.
- Become a Social Media Influencer: Build a following on social media and monetize your influence by partnering with brands and promoting products and services to your audience. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram offer opportunities for influencers to earn income through sponsored content and affiliate marketing.
- Test Video Games: Yes, you heard me right. Get paid to play video games and provide valuable feedback to game developers. Companies like Keywords Studio offer opportunities for gamers to test new games and earn money for their time and expertise.
- Test Products: Try out new products and services before they hit the market by participating in product testing programs. Websites like UserTesting and Toluna allow users to test products and provide feedback in exchange for compensation.
- Sell Translation Services: If you’ve got a second language (sadly my Geordie isn’t in much demand here in North America), then put your skills to work by offering translation services to individuals and businesses in need of multilingual support. Platforms like Gengo and Unbabel connect translators with clients seeking professional translation services.
- Remote Technical Support Services: Help individuals and businesses troubleshoot technical issues by offering remote technical support services. Companies like Apple and Dell hire remote technical support agents to assist customers with software and hardware problems.
- At-Home Customer Service Representative: Provide exceptional customer service from the comfort of your own home by becoming an at-home customer service representative. Companies like LiveOps and Arise hire remote customer service agents to handle inquiries and support requests.
- Become a Virtual Assistant: Assist busy professionals and entrepreneurs with administrative tasks by becoming a virtual assistant. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr connect virtual assistants with clients seeking remote support with tasks like scheduling, email management, and research.
- Medical Transcription Services: Transcribe medical documents and records from home as a medical transcriptionist. Companies like M*Modal and Nuance hire remote medical transcriptionists to convert spoken medical reports into written documents.
- Offer Consulting Services: Share your expertise and knowledge with clients as a freelance consultant in your area of expertise. What’s your superpower? Whether you’re a marketing guru or a financial wizard, there’s demand for consulting services in a variety of industries.
- Website Flipping: Buy, improve, and sell websites for profit as a website flipper. I’d never heard of this one till recently. Identify undervalued websites, make improvements to increase their value, and sell them for a profit on platforms like Flippa and Empire Flippers. Clearly this one isn’t for me, as my friend who helped me build this site will testify.
Making money from home has never been easier, thanks to the plethora of opportunities available in today’s digital age. So put your mind to something that get’s you excited. Whether you’re looking to earn extra cash on the side or launch a full-time career from home, there’s a legitimate way to make money that aligns with your skills, interests, and goals. Explore the options outlined here and see if you can bring in some extra income to help you out of your financial pickle or simply to boost your savings. Good luck and have fun.