Let’s face it, we could all use extra cash in our lives. Well, let’s make some money! If you can find some spare time in your daily routine, here are five ways you can make some extra cash.
Freelancing
We all have talents and skills that others don’t. People are willing to pay freelancers good money for their services. If you’re good at writing, get paid to write for a magazine or website. Do you have a good camera and enjoy taking photographs? People always need family photos. Think of all the things you enjoy doing in your free time; one of those activities could be a second paycheck.
Tip: If you don’t feel comfortable selling your work, start a blog. Blogs are a good way to brush up on your skills and create a portfolio of your work. You also have the opportunity to earn some money through posting ads on your site.
Shared Economy
If you like spending time in your car, why not earn extra money driving people around for Uber or Lyft? If you don’t feel comfortable letting people sit in your car, you can still make money by driving for UberEATS and DoorDash. These two companies, as well as others, will pay you to go to restaurants to pick up food and deliver it to their customers.
Tip: You can sign up with multiple companies to maximize your income. If nothing is happening with one company, another might have a customer waiting for a ride.
Upselling
Do you have some well-loved pieces of furniture in your home? If you know a thing or two about being creative, why not repurpose it? You can take an old worn-out piece of furniture, sand it down, add a fresh coat of paint and tighten some loose screws. The end result is a beautiful piece of furniture that could be perfect for someone else’s home. This weekend, go through your garage or go to a yard sale. Find a piece of furniture that needs a little TLC, doctor it up and have a yard sale of your own. You may find you can get a pretty penny for your fancy redesigned furniture.
Tip: Watch your supply budget. You don’t want to spend $100 on something you can only sell for $50.
Buy/Sell
If you can tell the difference between a knockoff and name brand, or have the patience to look for designer threads in the mix of random cloths, you’re in luck! Thrift stores and consignment stores can have hidden gems – if you just know where and how to look for them! My wife came home one day with a $10 purse she bought at a thrift store. That purse turned out to be an authentic Gucci® bag worth $100. By buying these high-end items at low-end prices, you can usually resell them for much more online to make some extra cash.
Tip: Watch out for knockoffs. It may look like gold but it could be pyrite.
Be Industrious
They say time is money. And, many people don’t have the time or the desire to do certain types of jobs around their homes. If you’re willing to do a little manual labor, you can start a side business getting paid to do things people don’t want to do themselves. Not sure what services you could offer? Think back to those chores your parents made you do. No one likes mowing their lawn or changing their car’s oil. Getting home late only to get right back up to walk the dog or go grocery shopping is tiring. These and other day-to-day tasks offer plenty of opportunities to earn extra spending money.
Tip: Take pride in your work. Do the job to the best of your ability, and you’ll have a better chance at being rehired.
If you’re willing to put forth the work you can reap the rewards. Extra money is out there waiting for you to find it.
