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My life revolves a lot around money, as I’m sure yours does. However, over the last 5 years, I’ve realized that learning how to make EXTRA money when you need to is beyond empowering.
It gives you control. Control of your life. Control of your time. Control of you.
In the book “Educated,” Tara Westover wrote, “Curiosity is a luxury for the financially secure.” AND. I. LOVE. THAT.
I find it dang near impossible to think about anything else when finances are tight. It consumes me! That’s why I love making extra money.
PIN IT FOR LATER 🙂
I’ve found that learning ways to make extra money can:
- Help you get out of debt
- pay for a vacation
- cover your bills
- fund an emergency fund
- give you the courage to kick your dead-end job,
- ease marital tension
- provide educational opportunities
And if handled well, extra money gives you the peace families need to thrive…
and…
the ability to serve others that only those with money can.
So here are 75+ ways to make extra money. Take a look and find one that suits you, then buckle down and GET. TO. WORK!
wAYS TO mAKE MONEY WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY OWN
1. SELL FURNITURE- Do you have furniture sitting around your house that you don’t use very often? Throw it on a Facebook yardsale group! These days, people love to refurbish old furniture, so no matter what shape it’s in, you could probably get a few bucks for it.
2. OLD ELECTRONICS- Best-Buy will buy old electronics from you including old computers and cell phones. You may also be able to get more for your device by throwing it on a yard sale page too.
3. CLOTHING- Is your closet bursting at the seams? Go through and sell clothing that you haven’t worn within 12 months. You can sell clothes to thrift stores or find a buy and sell group on Facebook in your local area.
4. RENT A ROOM- Do you have a spare bedroom that you could rent (may have to clean it out first…)? Sign up for Airbnb, and rent it out easily especially if you live close to a university, national parks, a big city, tourist attraction or an airport.
5. OLD CAR- People still buy old cars. Sell it for parts if it’s in bad shape, or sell it for super cheap if you need. $700 is better than a kick in the pants!
6. SELL POSSESSIONS TO THRIFT STORES- Look through your storage closets, sheds, and garage and pull out stuff you aren’t using. I sold a bunch of old windows we found in our attic after we moved in. One person’s garbage might just perhaps be another person’s treasure!
7. LEFTOVER PROJECT MATERIALS- Did you just finish a project? Leftover sod, shingles, sheet metal, plywood, bark, gravel, and dirt are all fabulous things to sell.
8. BABY GEAR- Brand new baby gear is so expensive. Swings, high chairs, cribs… if you bought it all new as a first-time parent, you’d have to take out a second mortgage! (I joke, I joke…. sort of…). If you have baby gear floating around, sell it!
9. CHILDREN’S CLOTHING- Kids grow so dang fast that people are always looking for gently used kids clothing for a good price. Sell what you have by individual pieces or as a bulk bag of everything you want to get rid of.
10. YOUR HOBBY- Do you like to sew? Crochet? Weld? Paint? Get busy and sell your creations at the local artisan’s collective, the farmer’s market, on Craigslist, or a local Facebook group.
11. TEXTBOOKS- Get those things out of your house! Sell them to the next generation through Amazon, eBay, textbook buy and sell sites or your local university.
12. PLASMA- We literally paid for our 5-year anniversary date with my husband’s plasma. Search online for a local plasma donation center if you don’t mind needles and have an hour or two to spare.
MAKE EXTRA MONEY BY STARTING A SIDE BUSINESS
13. CHILDCARE- If you love kids, offer to watch the neighborhood children in your home when their parents are working or running errands. There are so many families out there in need of childcare that if you market yourself well, you’ll have an opportunity.
14. CLEAN HOMES OR BUSINESSES- If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, You could clean homes for people moving, having a new baby, recovering from surgery or set up some sort of recurring schedule.
15. DETAIL CARS- Man as a mom of toddlers, I’d love to have someone come to my house to clean my car. There are plenty of video’s on YouTube about this that you could be doing this tonight! Put together flyers and take them around your neighborhood for your first clients.
16. GROCERY SHOPPING +/OR PICK-UP– Again, as a mom of toddlers, I’d LOVE if someone would go grocery shopping for me. If I could just send you my list and NOT have to brave the store with three munchkins, oh baby that’d be amazing. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.
17. SCOOPING POOP– Smelly and disgusting, but somebody’s got to do it! I’m sure you could have multiple clients if you sent some flyers around, especially after a long winter.
18. BATHE DOGS- We just bought a Sheepadoodle (Rosie) and she is a BEAST to bathe. I’d pay someone else to wash her every once in a while, and I’m sure other dog owners would too.
19. DOG WALKING- If you are looking for ways to get your exercise in while earning a few extra bucks, here ya go. Many people want a dog, but find it difficult to adequately exercise it (I’m learning) during the week while they are working.
20. PET BOARDING- Don’t mind pets in your home? Throw an ad up and let people leave their beloved fluff balls with you while they go on vacation. This could also be done during the day while people work and they don’t want their dog kenneled all day. The options are endless.
21. SKILLS COACHING- What are you good at? As an ex-college volleyball player, I often teach private lessons to kids looking to make the local jr. high and high school teams. What are you good at? Art? Ice-skating? Soccer? Basketball? Singing? Piano? Baking? Teach what you’re good at.
22. TUTORING: Many community colleges and universities are often looking for tutors. You could also post an independent ad and tutor kids in jr. high and high school if academia is your thing.
23. BAKE SALES- I love to bake. This would definitely be my money-maker of choice if I didn’t love to eat what I bake more than baking itself. You could sell cookies for $3 bucks a piece if they are a decent size. Yum!
24. CHILDREN’S CLASSES- Host group children’s classes based on one of your skills. It could be a rhythm class, baking class, first aid… anything!
25. CLEAN GARBAGE CANS- Offer to clean out the big street garbage cans at homes in your neighborhood. They are often smelly or sticky and are hard to clean. You could easily charge $15-20 bucks a can!
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26. PAINTING- Painting is something people pay other people to do for a reason… it’s messy and tedious. Offer touch up painting, or the full-blown works! Throw an ad on a local yard sale page to gauge the interest in your local area.
27. BREED DOGS- If you love animals, have space and are willing to take some time, this could be for you! I know many people who have paid a pretty penny for miniature Goldendoodles and teacup designer dogs.
28. RENT STAND UP PADDLE BOARDS OR KAYAKS- Stand up paddle boards are all the rage right now, but many people don’t want to store the giant thing, making this a great money-making opportunity.
29. RENT YOUR RV OR TRAILER- You paid a lot of money for that RV, why let it sit when you’re not using it? Rent it out on the weekends you aren’t using it by posting it on a local Facebook group or a site like RVShare.com.
30. RENT YOUR BIG BOY TOYS- Got a boat? Four-wheelers? A side by side? Rent them out the weekends you aren’t using them. Look into insurance coverage before, or find a list and rent site that provides it.
31. STAGE HOMES- When people are trying to sell their home or even office space, they often hire someone to decorate the place super cute for people walking through and for the online listing pictures. That could be you!
32. DEMOLISH- Have some skills demolishing building interiors? Offer your time and brute force to people who are re-modeling their homes or business spaces.
33. YARD WORK- A lot of people are opting out of taking care of their yards themselves. You could strictly mow lawns, or you could do the whole works with gardening and tree-trimming included.
34. SELL T-SHIRTS- A Cricut and a heat press can go a long way. You could make shirts for local little league teams or elementary schools.
35. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS- Get festive by helping others put up and take down their Christmas lights. This is a great idea especially if your job is already seasonal, to begin with.
36. CLEAN RAIN GUTTERS- If you don’t mind heights you could clean out rain gutters. There are even attachments that connect to a leaf blower if you do hate heights. 🙂
WAYS to make extra money at your job
37. ASK FOR A RAISE- The worst they can say is no.
38. TAKE ON EXTRA PROJECTS- See if there are any projects that need to be accomplished that you could work on after hours or at home.
39. BONUS OPPORTUNITIES- See what bonus opportunities are available, or negotiate a bonus opportunity.
WAYS TO MAKE EXTRA MONEY bY wORKING PART tIME or seasonally
40. DELIVERY COMPANIES- UPS and FedEx hire extra employees during the holidays and often have evening and night shift availability to work around your 9-5.
41. DEPARTMENT STORES- Big department stores like JCPenny, Macy’s and Nordstrom are also often looking for extra help during the holidays for product placement and delivery.
42. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE- I get a flyer in the mail every year detailing employment opportunities available during the holidays. I’ve noticed they have as short as 4-hour shifts available in the evenings to full-time help through the New Year. From processing to delivery, this could be a solid part-time gig.
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43. AMAZON- They’ll hire you to deliver packages and you can even use your own vehicle!
44. DELIVER PIZZA- Many evening shifts available so you could work after your day job. Plus working for the restaurant is bound to add up to some free pizza perks!
45. CRUMBL- The store I needed in college finally exists and they are expanding like crazy! See if there is a location near you and get paid to deliver chocolatey goodness to cookie lovers like yourself! 🙂 They are open until midnight, so you could squeeze in a few extra hours after your day job.
46. UNIVERSITY JANITOR- Being a college athlete, I was on campus super early, but the janitors were, without a doubt, always there first. Early morning and late-night shifts mean it could work around your day job, school schedule or parenting life.
47. REFEREE- Officiate little league programs in your local community. Or if you want to take it to the next step, get certified with the National Association of Sports Officials and build your own schedule and get paid to watch sports all day.
48. COACH- Coach little league sports in your local community. Many are volunteer positions, but there are multiple paid positions as well.
49. TEACH COMMUNITY EDUCATION- Cities often put together classes for a discounted price to help families gain access to education. I taught a community class on personal finances in a local city, but there was anything from guitar lessons to computer programming.
50. UBER/LYFT- Set your own schedule by chauffeuring people around your community. For Lyft, vehicle requirements vary by state, and for Uber, your car needs to be 15 years old or newer.
51. V.I.P KID- Teach Chinese kids how to speak English! You can work from home even in your pajamas if you like.
52. FUNERAL HOME- If you don’t mind dead bodies, you could be hired to pick up the remains of those who have passed on. Many funeral homes even have an apartment you could live in while you’re employed. These positions are often just on call too!
WAYS TO MAKE EXTRA MONEY ONLINE
53. START A BLOG- Most blogs start as a side gig. If you are patient, willing to learn and persistent, you could turn your side gig into a full-time opportunity.
54. FIVERR– An online database for freelancers. Are you good at proofreading? Animation? Voice recording? Graphic Design? Illustrating? Website design? Check it out, the options are endless.
55. DIGITAL PRODUCTS- Create a digital download, e-book, or e-course on something you are knowledgeable about. Teachable is a great platform for e-courses!
56. SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER- Are you savvy with social media? Social media is a huge driving force behind businesses these days and many are looking to pass on the responsibility to someone else. Moderate comments, create posts, manage contests, etc. It’s your time to shine!
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57. WRITING CONTRIBUTOR- If you love to write, this may be a good option for you. Blogs and non-profits are often looking for someone to contribute via guest posting and other means.
58. BRAND MANAGER- Businesses and bloggers need help managing all the moving parts. Being a brand manager means anything from seeking out partnerships to posting on social media to analyzing the market.
59. IBOTTA- Get cash back on groceries that you are already buying. Download the app and redeem after purchasing. You can even redeem at non-grocery stores and restaurants like Old Navy, Home Depot, Texas Roadhouse, and Chipotle. Just remember to use the app.
60. SWAGBUCKS- Earn gift cards for watching videos, taking surveys, shopping online, searching the web and playing games. If you’re already an internet junkie, this may be your cup of tea.
61. PROOFREAD ARTICLES- Bloggers, Coaches, Consultants, Court Reporters, Real Estate Agents, Non-profits and every other type of content creator often hire help for proofreading. Get paid per each page you proofread.
62. FACEBOOK GROUP/PAGE MODERATOR- Someone has to be in charge of keeping trolls at bay and encouraging constructive conversation within Facebook groups. If could be you! Contact some of your favorite brands and small businesses and see if there is a need for moderators.
63. MARKETING AGENCY- There are a lot of self-taught marketers out there. If you know or are willing to learn about Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Pinterest Ads or the like, there’s an opportunity for you.
64. VIRTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE CONSULTANT- Work from home and offer creative services, professional support, tech support or even administrative services. You can really tailor being a VA however you want.
other random ways to make extra money
65. RENT STUFF FOR WEDDINGS- Wedding receptions these days are getting so creative! You could rent anything from an ice cream machine to a cotton candy machine, to a photo booth, to therapy llamas (seriously).
66. PRINCESS PARTIES- While you can’t legally use many of the Disney princess names and make a profit, you could be an “Ice Queen” or “Island Princess” that visits birthday parties for little girls. I paid over $100 bucks for Belle to make an appearance at my daughter’s birthday last year and tie balloons. If you market yourself well, it could be pretty lucrative!
67. MEDICAL RESEARCH- If you don’t mind lending your body for research, this might be for you. I happened to snag doing surveys for BabyCenter right after I had my second baby. They were researching post-partum depression and I got $50 in Amazon gift cards for filling out a few surveys.
68. SELL TRENDY PRODUCTS- My husband tried to get me to sell fidget spinners when they became all the rage. I’m kicking myself. Trendy products sell if you can catch the wave before it’s gone.
69. MODEL- Because of the internet and camera phones, anyone can be a model these days. I’ve seen ads for footwear models, hair models, pregnant models, makeup models… everything! If you don’t mind being in front of a camera this could be a good gig.
70. SURVEYS- Take a few surveys and get paid! This isn’t going to make you a millionaire, but it will give you some spare change, especially if you’re fast.
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71. BE AN EXTRA- The movie industry has exploded thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Beyond that, everyone and their dog are making videos for marketing purposes. There’s always a need.
72. SELL HOMEMADE SOAPS- Find a recipe on Pinterest and make it your own with different essential oils. Sell them at farmer’s markets, county fairs, boutiques or even on Etsy.
73. STOCK BREAK ROOMS- Big corporations often hire this out to food service companies, but smaller businesses might be willing to give you a shot! Plus, with many grocery stores delivering these days, it may be as simple as ordering online and then stocking shelves once it’s dropped off.
74. HOUSE SIT- If anyone you know is going on a long vacation, offer to keep on eye on their home. This could include watering plants, making sure storm drains are on, mowing the lawn, spending time inside the home to make sure there aren’t any water leaks or other accidents brewing, grabbing the daily mail, and feeding pets.
75. HANDYMAN- Are you good at fixing things? Put an ad up on the internet for yourself! I had a friend in high school who taught himself how to fix iPod and iPhone screens, and other friends who could service vehicles.
76. FITNESS CHALLENGES- Do you like to be active? Put together a fitness challenge for your friends, family or community. Winner takes all!
78. RENT OLD PROM DRESSES- If your prom dresses aren’t waaay out of style yet, ( or even if they are, you never know) you could rent them to other girls headed to a dance.
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