Earning extra money can truly revolutionize your financial life, and at money-central.com, we’re dedicated to showing you how. Discovering effective strategies to earn extra money can help you pay off debt, save for dream vacations, escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, and achieve financial independence. Let’s explore many avenues for boosting your income and achieving your financial goals with practical tips and expert insights, offering simple side hustles to more involved business ventures. Let’s dive into ways to achieve financial wellness, build financial stability, and unlock multiple income streams!
1. Launch a Side Hustle – 21 Ways To Increase Your Income
Starting a side business is a fantastic way to earn extra money. It can even evolve into your full-time career.
1.1. Start a Blog
Blogging is a viable career path. I have earned over $5,000,000 over the years online through my blog and you can read more about this in my monthly online income reports. You can create your own blog here with my easy-to-use tutorial. You can start your blog for as low as $2.75 per month plus you get a free domain if you sign-up through my tutorial. Also, I have a free How To Start A Blog email course that I recommend signing up for. You can make money through affiliate marketing, starting a Youtube channel, on Instagram, and more. According to research from New York University’s Stern School of Business, blogging provides flexible income opportunities.
1.2. Take Online Surveys
Do you want to earn rewards for sharing your opinion? You can earn extra money by participating in surveys through platforms like Swagbucks, American Consumer Opinion, Survey Junkie, Pinecone Research, Opinion Outpost, Branded Surveys, and Prize Rebel. These sites are free to join and use! You get paid to answer surveys and to test products. It’s best to sign up for as many as you can as that way you can receive the most surveys and make the most money.
1.3. Yard Maintenance
Do you enjoy working outdoors? If you want to learn how to earn extra money, you can make money by mowing lawns, killing/removing weeds, cleaning gutters, raking leaves, and so on. This is a task that many homeowners do not like to do, so this is something that they hire others to do.
1.4. House Sitting
Are you looking for a unique travel opportunity? Housesitting is becoming more and more popular these days. There are many websites out there for housesitting. You might not always get paid, but you may be able to score a nice place to stay in a nice vacation spot. In many cases, you do get paid though to watch the house, water the plants, and so on.
1.5. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Are you an animal lover? If you love animals, then you may want to look into this. With this job, you may be going over to your client’s home to check in a few times a day, you may be staying at their house, or the animals may be staying with you. Rover is a website to check out if you are interested in dog walking, pet sitting, and other related services. Another website similar to Rover is called Wag.
1.6. Pet Training and Grooming
Do you have a knack for working with animals? If you are good with animals, then you may want to look into training them for side money. You can help pet owners teach their pets how to behave better, do tricks, and more. Another would be to groom pets. This is yet another side business related to animals, but it can be a good one. You could start a mobile pet grooming business where you go directly to the pets.
1.7. Explore Freecash
Are you seeking easy online tasks? Freecash is a website that allows you to make money at home by playing games, filling out surveys, and completing other tasks. The money that you earn on Freecash can be withdrawn through PayPal, crypto (such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, or Doge), or a wide range of gift cards as well. Withdrawals are starting at $0.10. The average user earns around $20.00+ per day, but there are also users who make hundreds of dollars daily. I personally made over $300 in one week by playing a game on my phone. You can sign up for Freecash here.
1.8. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Do you have a car and some free time? Spending your spare time by driving others around can be a great money maker. Read more about this in my post – How To Become An Uber Driver-Partner Or Lyft Driver.
1.9. Pet Waste Removal
Are you willing to handle less glamorous tasks? One of the ways to earn extra money is to scoop poop for others, such as homes, businesses, and so on.
1.10. Snow Shoveling
Do you live in a snowy area? If you get snow where you live, then you may be able to knock on your neighbor’s doors and see if they would like it shoveled. If you want to go a little further, you could even invest in a plow and market your services.
1.11. Babysitting and Nannying
Do you enjoy working with children? When I was just 14, I was making $10 an hour babysitting for a neighbor. This was a very long time ago too! I babysat 40 hours a week and it was a great way to earn extra money! If you have any special skills or provide extra work, such as cleaning up around the house, teaching the child how to speak another language, picking up the child after activities, and so on, you will most likely be able to charge more than $10 an hour. I’ve heard that babysitters this day typically earn around $15 to $30 an hour. You can find jobs in local Facebook groups, Care.com, and SitterCity.
1.12. Home Repair Assistance
Are you a handy person? If you are a handy person, you may be able to get paid to repair broken items around a person’s home. This is one of the ways to earn extra money that may be good for someone who is often asked to fix things anyways. Put your skill to use!
1.13. Home Cleaning Services
Do you have a knack for cleaning? Cleaning is something that many people dread. If you are good at cleaning, then you may be able to find clients who want you to come to their home to clean. You may be cleaning their whole house, bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, basements, deep cleaning, and more. I have even heard about people who specialize in cleaning very messy homes, such as for those who hoard items. This is one of the ways to earn extra money that can be good, especially if you love to clean!
1.14. Furniture Moving
Are you physically fit and organized? Moving is another task that many people dislike. Movers can earn a broad range when it comes to hourly pay, but it’s usually somewhere around $50 an hour if you run your own business. You may be able to find a full-time moving job, or you may be able to find one-time moving gigs on a website like Craigslist.
1.15. Photography Services
Do you have a talent for photography? Not just anyone can do this, as photography requires both skill and talent. However, if you know what you are doing then you may be able to turn your passion into a side business. You might be able to make money as a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, event photographer, stock photo photographer (such as for online platforms like Shutterstock or DepositPhotos) and more. Learn more at 18 Ways You Can Get Paid To Take Pictures.
1.16. Teaching Skills
Do you have a skill you can teach? Is there something that you consider yourself an expert at that someone else may want to pay you to teach? This could include personal training, art related (such as watercolor painting), music-related, outdoor survival skills, water sports, and more.
1.17. Tutoring
Are you knowledgeable in a particular subject? Similar to teaching a skill, you may be able to make money by tutoring someone. You may help someone with their homework, help them learn a language, prepare for an important exam, and more.
1.18. Window Washing
Do you want a business with low overhead? Many businesses out there outsource their window washing and this can be one of the ways to earn extra money for you. The work may not super pay well, but it can be done quickly with the right tools. Plus, if you have many clients located near each other than it may be well worth it.
1.19. Car Detailing
Do you have a passion for cars? I’m Facebook friends with a person who has a side business detailing cars. If you love cars, this may be a great side business for you. This could even be a full-time business as well.
1.20. Creating Balloon Animals
Are you creative and enjoy entertaining? Back when I was on a cruise one summer, I met a couple who traveled and lived on cruises. The wife was the ship’s full-time balloon animal person and only worked a few hours a day then got to enjoy all of the fun on the ship during her spare time. Her spouse was just hanging out in the hot tub with us because he simply was able to enjoy the benefits as well. They seemed to really enjoy it.
1.21. Home Painting
Do you have painting skills? If you are a good painter, you may be able to find people who are willing to pay you to paint the inside of their home. Painters where I used to live made around $25 an hour or more.
2. Secure a Part-Time Job To Boost Your Income
There are many, many part-time jobs out there that may be able to work along with your schedule at your full-time job as one of the ways to earn extra money. You can find a job on sites such as Snagajob, Craigslist (yes, I’ve found a legitimate job through there before), Monster, and so on.
2.1. Seasonal Holiday Work
Do you have time during the holidays? There are many companies that hire hundreds of thousands of jobs over the winter months such as Target, UPS, FedEx, and more. If you have any extra free time in the winter month, then you may be able to find a way to earn extra money. This may allow you to put more money towards your holiday spending, towards your debt, or even just give you some extra spending or saving money year round.
2.2. Summer Part-Time Jobs
Do you have summers off? If you have a job that gives you the summers off, then you may want to look into finding a part-time summer job to fill the days as one of the ways to earn extra money. Some part-time jobs are below.
2.3. Bartending
Do you have experience making drinks? If you have bartending experience, then you may be able to find a bartending job at a bar, a restaurant, a catering company, and more. Since usually the hours for this are later in the evening or at night and on the weekends, you will probably be able to find a bartending job that works somewhat well with your schedule.
2.4. Restaurant Work
Do you enjoy the food service industry? You could be a host, wait tables, clean tables, and so on as one of the ways to earn extra money.
2.5. Substitute Teaching
Are you good with children? I know quite a few people who substitute teach both part-time and full-time and love it. Sometimes the schedule can be tricky as you may be called at the last moment, but other times you may secure a longer time frame position.
2.6. Hospitality Industry
Do you have a knack for customer service? Work at a hotel, motel, hostel, resort, etc. There are many jobs in the hospitality industry and this could be one of the ways to earn extra money for you.
2.7. Retail Work
Do you enjoy working with people and products? I worked in retail for over five years, made lifelong friends, and I was able to make an okay income to live off of. Plus, you can usually receive a good discount when working in retail.
2.8. Tour Guiding
Are you knowledgeable about your area? Is there something out there you love and that you are very knowledgeable in? Maybe you should lead a tour! If you live in a touristy area, then this may be a no-brainer. Check out Airbnb Experiences to see if this is a gig that you’d like to offer. You can create a listing and sell your yours on Airbnb Experiences.
2.9. Lifeguarding
Are you a strong swimmer with certifications? You could lifeguard at a community pool, a private pool, a water park, and so on. You’ll have to take courses on this subject as other people’s lives are in your hands, of course.
2.10. Sports Refereeing
Do you know the rules of the game? Different sports and leagues pay differently, but you can usually earn a great part-time income by reffing a sport.
2.11. Delivery Services
Do you have a reliable vehicle? There are many things you could deliver for businesses. You could deliver food, groceries, flowers, and more as one of the ways to earn extra money by delivering items.
2.12. Farm Assistance
Are you willing to work hard outdoors? Farm work is hard and loyal/dedicated workers are usually hard to come by due to this. If you are ready to put some sweat in, you may be able to find a job on a farm.
2.13. Newspaper Delivery
Are you an early riser? Delivering newspapers can be a good way to make some side money. You may have to wake up early, but maybe those are the hours you are looking for.
2.14. Completing Chores
Are you detail-oriented and organized? Being someone’s assistant can be an interesting way to make money. Someone may pay you to do their laundry, clean their home, pick up their food, answer phone calls, and more.
2.15. Assisting People with Disabilities
Are you patient and compassionate? I know a few people who do this and they all say that it’s a very worthwhile job to have as you are making a meaningful impact on someone’s life. With this job, you might help a person shop for groceries, you might show them how to make meals, you might help them with their homework, help them find a job, and so on.
3. Make Extra Money Online
I am all about making income online in order to earn extra money. You can work from the comfort of your home, usually on your own schedule, and you can be location independent and travel all over the world if you want to.
Plus, you can find online side gigs or full-time gigs – it’s up to you. You really just need an internet connection and a computer or laptop.
3.1. Resume Writing
Do you have a talent for crafting compelling resumes? A little over one year ago, I interviewed a reader who ran a resume business. She showed us how others can learn how to make side money by helping others create great resumes so they can land their next job. If others are constantly asking you to take a look at their resume, then this may be a great side hustle for you to try out.
3.2. Article Editing
Do you have an eye for detail? Blogs need editors! No matter how many times a person reads an article, something usually slips through. If you’re a grammar-nut, then this can be a great way to earn extra money. I have an editor and she is wonderful. She did not edit this article, though, so I am sure there are many errors, haha.
3.3. Social Media Management
Are you savvy with social media? Being a social media manager can be a fun job. Not everyone can do it but if you have social media skills then it might be something to look into. It’s not as easy as just sharing random content as you do need to create a strategy that works, but it can turn into a fun career if you are successful.
3.4. Website Assistance
Are you tech-savvy? If you are a tech-savvy, others may be willing to pay you to help them start their website. This can be a great way to earn extra money if you have the skills to do so! You may be helping them with the design of their website, setting it all up (such as by connecting the domain name and web hosting), setting up their social media accounts, and more.
3.5. Use Swagbucks
Do you want to earn rewards for online activities? Swagbucks allows me to occasionally earn Amazon gift cards with very little work. Swagbucks is just like using Google to do your online searches, except you get rewarded points called SB for the things you do through their website. Then, when you have enough points called SB, you can redeem them for cash, gift cards, and more. You’ll receive a free $5 bonus just for signing up through my link!
3.6. Social Media Advertising
Do you have an active social media presence? If you have social media accounts, you may be able to make money by posting advertisements on your accounts. One company that is popular for this is Izea. You can learn more about making money through Izea here.
3.7. Freelance Writing
Do you enjoy writing? Freelance writing can be a fun way to make money online if you enjoy writing. First, you will need to find someone to hire you. This means you will most likely need experience in order to gain experience. Don’t worry, it is possible. You can start by creating your own blog and writing on there first. This way future employers can see firsthand if your writing style will work for them or not.
3.8. Forum Moderation
Do you spend time on online forums? Some forums will pay you to moderate their message boards. If there is a forum you often visit, you might want to see if they are hiring.
3.9. Website Testing
Are you interested in user experience? This is a relatively new way to make money online at home that I have heard about. UserTesting.com is a website that pays you to test websites. You get paid $10 for each website you review and test, and $15 per website that you mobile test. You do not need to be a super technical person for this online job as they want real people to review websites to see what people really think.
3.10. Virtual Assistant Services
Do you have strong organizational skills? A virtual assistant helps a business run more smoothly. You can be contracted for one project (such as collecting data for research) or it can be a continuing job such as replying to e-mails and comments. Virtual assistant work can range broadly. There are many, many tasks that people hire virtual assistants for. Read How To Become a Virtual Assistant and What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?
4. Sell Your Items To Generate Income
There are many things you can do to earn extra money by selling items. We all have extra things laying around that can be sold, or you can even search for items that can be bought and resold for a profit.
Selling your stuff can be one of the many ways to earn extra money fast and make extra cash.
4.1. Sell on eBay
Do you want to reach a global market? Whether you have old clothes you want to sell, a car, electronics, and so on, eBay can be a great way to sell many different types of items. eBay also has worldwide reach, which can be great if the area where you live doesn’t have a large enough market for the item you want to sell.
4.2. Sell on Craigslist
Do you prefer local sales? Craigslist can be a great way to sell your items and earn a higher value for it too. You will have to meet up with the person though, so, always be safe.
4.3. Sell to Secondhand Stores
Do you want a quick and easy selling option? There are many secondhand stores out there that will take your clothing and shoes. Stores like Plato’s Closet, Hut No. 8, and Buffalo Exchange will pay upfront for young adult clothing that is recent, and they take all of the legwork out of selling items, which is nice. There are also secondhand stores for designer items, women’s clothing, children’s items, and more. Some pay upfront whereas others may not pay you until after the item has sold.
4.4. Garage Sales
Do you want to clear out a lot of items at once? A garage sale can be an easy way to earn extra money because everyone comes straight to you. The only downside is that usually you can’t charge as high for your items as you can if you were to sell on site such as eBay or Craigslist.
4.5. Sell Old Books
Do you have old textbooks or novels? Back when I was in college, I would always sell any books immediately after the class was over. This helped me to regain the amount that I originally paid for the book. You can sell your books on websites such as Half.com.
4.6. Sell Gift Cards
Do you have unused gift cards? If you have any gift cards in your wallet that you know you won’t use, you should think about selling them. There are many, many websites out there that will pay you cash. So, if you have Visa gift cards, gift cards to restaurants or stores, or something else, you may be able to make some extra cash by selling them online.
4.7. Sell on Etsy
Are you a crafty person? Etsy is a great place to sell homemade items, vintage finds, and craft supplies. If you are a crafty person, definitely check out this website. Two articles that I recommend reading include: How To Make $1,000+ A Month Selling Stickers Online and How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy.
4.8. Sell Food
Do you enjoy cooking or baking? If you make a lot of your own food, you may want to start making extra and selling it to others in your area such as at farmers markets and flea markets. You may be able to sell canned goods, vegetables, and more.
4.9. Sell Biological Material
Are you comfortable with medical procedures? Yup, all of these can be sold for a price and you can find ways to earn extra money through this avenue.
5. Increase Your Earnings At Your Current Job
If you’re not interested in finding a separate way to earn extra money, then you may want to look into seeing if there are ways to make more money at the job you already have.
5.1. Request a Raise
What’s the most direct path to more money? Asking for a raise may be the best way to earn extra money, as the work is the same and you most likely won’t be adding additional hours to your work week.
5.2. Seek a Promotion
What if a raise isn’t possible? If just a raise is not possible, then you may want to look into finding a promotion at your company that you know comes with a pay bump.
5.3. Work Overtime
Do you have extra time to dedicate? Another way to make more money at the job you already have is to see if your company will allow you to work overtime. In many cases, overtime is welcomed and you can earn a decent amount of money through this. Plus, what’s an extra hour or two when you’re already there?
5.4. Earn Bonuses
Are bonuses a part of your compensation? Depending on the industry you work in, you may be able to earn bonuses as one of the ways to earn extra money. When Wes worked in sales, there were tons of opportunities for bonuses. One time he won the opportunity to spin a wheel 12 times because he did so well that month. Each spin was worth between something like $100 and $1,000. This was a great opportunity to earn extra money, and there are actually several sales jobs out there that provide opportunities like this.
6. Earn Extra Money By Renting Out Your Assets
There are many items you may be able to rent to others as one of the ways to earn extra money. Renting items may also be a way for you to make fairly passive income too.
6.1. Rent Garage Space
Do you have extra space in your garage? If you have extra space in your garage, you might be surprised to hear that there are people willing to pay you for this space. Some just don’t have the room at their own place but they still want a safe storage area for their belongings, such as a classic car. I once heard about someone who made an extra $200 a month by doing this.
6.2. Rent Parking Space
Do you have a parking spot you don’t use? If you have your own parking spot but don’t use it or don’t need it as bad, then you may want to rent it out to someone else. Depending on where you live, you may be able to pull in a nice bit of cash each month.
6.3. Rent a Room
Do you have a spare room in your home? If you have extra space in your home, then you may want to rent it out as one of the ways to earn extra money. Read A Complete Guide To Renting A Room For Extra Money.
6.4. Rent Textbooks
Do you have textbooks from past courses? Yes, you can rent your textbooks to others as well and earn a fee as one of the ways to earn extra money, just like many of the online rental companies.
6.5. Rent Your Car
Can you go without your car for a while? Did you know that you can rent out your car on an hourly, daily, weekly, or on an even long basis in certain areas? If you know you aren’t going to use your car and that your insurance will still cover your vehicle, then this could be an interesting idea with very little work needed.
6.6. Rent Wedding Supplies
Do you have wedding decorations or furniture? Many brides nowadays are renting furniture so that they can save money and so that they don’t have to find a use for an item after the wedding is over. This includes couches, ceremony arbors, tables, chairs, centerpiece decorations, mason jars, and so on.
6.7. Rent a Photo Booth
Do you want to invest in a fun rental business? Photo booths can be a relatively affordable way to start a business and they are also quite lucrative. You may be able to rent your photo booth for events such as weddings, festivals, parties, and more.
7. Miscellaneous Ways To Easily Earn Extra Money
This is the area that includes all other easy ways to earn extra money that didn’t really fit into any of the above categories.
7.1. Bake Desserts
Are you skilled in the kitchen? If so, then you may want to bake goods for others. Others may buy your desserts for their wedding, a baby shower, a birthday party, an anniversary celebration, and more.
7.2. Advertisement Placement
Are you willing to place ads on your property? Yes, there are companies out there that will pay you to place an advertisement on your car, home, or even your body (such as in the form of a tattoo on your forehead). If there’s space on your car or on your fence that you don’t mind placing an ad on, then look into this!
7.3. Movie or TV Extra
Do you live near a film production? If there’s a movie or TV show that is being filmed near you, you could always find ways to earn extra money by being an extra in it. You won’t have to do much and it could be a lot of fun, especially if you are able to meet someone famous!
7.4. Invest
Are you looking for long-term financial growth? There are no guarantees when it comes to investing, but you should always start sooner rather than later.
7.5. Credit Card Rewards
Are you responsible with credit cards? There are many credit cards out there that will give you cashback just for using them. If you are good with credit cards (please skip this if you are not), this is something to look into as you can make money without having to do much.
7.6. Medical Research Studies
Are you comfortable participating in medical research? Wes took part in two or three medical studies and earned a few thousand dollars by doing them. They required minimal work, but he did have to stay overnight a few nights and get his blood drawn a lot. The money can be well worth it though if you don’t mind that.
7.7. Graphic Design
Do you have a talent for creating graphics? Creating fun and engaging graphics takes talent and it’s a service that many are often looking for. This is another of the ways to earn extra money from home that you may be interested in.
7.8. Use Ebates for Online Shopping
Do you shop online frequently? If you ever shop online, you should always use a cash back website like Ebates so that you can earn free cash back and make extra money just for shopping online. It doesn’t cost anything to use Ebates. Instead, you just click on a link through their website that leads you to the store you are interested in shopping at. They earn money from you shopping through their link and they give you a part of what they receive back as a thank you for using them. You can still use coupons and discounts when shopping as well, so it’s just an extra way to make money back on your purchases for very little work. You can sign up for Ebates here.
7.9. Enter Contests and Giveaways
Do you like the thrill of winning? There’s no guarantee that you will win anything when entering contests, but it is possible. You may win cash, gift cards, vacations, electronics, and more. They key here is to enter as many as you can.
7.10. Recycle
Are you environmentally conscious? There are many, many items out there you can recycle for ways to earn extra money depending on where you live. This may include plastic, metal, corks, and more.
7.11. Mystery Shopping
Do you enjoy shopping and dining? Yes, you can actually get paid to shop at stores and eat at restaurants. You can read more about mystery shopping and the mystery shopping company I recommend in Want To Make An Extra $100 A Month? Learn How To Become A Mystery Shopper.
7.12. Try InboxDollars
Do you want to get paid for simple online tasks? InboxDollars is an online rewards website I recommend if you want to find ways to earn extra money and make extra money. You can earn cash by taking surveys, playing games, shopping online, searching the web, redeeming grocery coupons, and more. Also, by signing up through my link, you will receive $5.00 for free just for signing up!
7.13. Become an Airbnb Host
Do you have a spare room or property? You can rent out a whole home or a spare room and make extra money.
7.14. Freelance
Are you looking for flexible work options? Freelancers do many different tasks such as graphic design, writing, editing, and so much more. You may find freelance work through referrals, by having your own website and advertising your services, creating a profile on a job board, on websites such as UpWork, Fiverr, and more.
7.15. Get Paid To Read Books
Do you love reading? Yes, you can actually get paid to read books. Please head to 7 Best Ways To Get Paid To Read Books to learn more.
7.16. Pick Up Litter
Are you looking for an outdoor business opportunity? Yes, you can get paid to pick
