In today’s world, there’s an overflow of entertainment readily accessible to feed into our need to satisfy boredom while being sure to slowly chip away at our bank accounts. At times, even with a full-time job and stable income, keeping up with the cost of living can really start adding up — literally. You deserve to have fun and enjoy yourself without feeling stressed out about finances all the time. Also, it is quite possible that you just don’t have the physical time or energy to take on a physical part-time job. Thankfully, there are plenty of creative ways to earn money on the side so that guilt-free spending is much easier to do.
20 Creative Ways to Make Money
Here are some of the most creative and easy ways to make quick money online and at home:
1. Become a freelance writer
If you are particularly skilled at writing, editing or have a specialty in anything tech related, freelancing is a good part-time source of income that allows you to still maintain control of your own schedule and work from home. There are gig-seeking platforms like MBO Partners and nDash to assist with work-from-home creative project needs from around the world from a host of companies, from fresh startups to established corporations, making it super easy to attain beneficial side income.
From translation services to logo design, you can do random and one-off odd jobs when you sign up for the Fiverr app. With the amount of creativity and flexibility involved, some Fiverr sellers have been able to make it their primary income while many use it as supplemental to their existing full-time jobs. The best part is that it’s free to join — and you get to keep 80 percent of your earnings per gig.
2. Have an online garage sale
There are so many creative ways to make supplemental income without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Craigslist is a popular destination for selling all kinds of goods, from appliances to furniture. Etsy allows sellers with unique vintage and one-of-a-kind items to curate their own “shops,” which in turn, they can see a nice amount of profit from. And of course, Amazon will put millions of potential buyers in your pathway for nearly anything you try to sell. Poshmark will position you as a “Seller Stylist” where you can upload a photo of you wearing the items you’re trying to sell, set a price for them then wait for someone to snag them in exchange for extra money.
3. Sell your used textbooks
If you are a college student, there are useful resources for finding, buying and selling used textbooks with ease. BookScouter will compare your book to 35 comparable vendors to help you get some extra cash for the very thing another bargain-hunting student may be looking for. In person, you can make money fast by taking your books to a Half Price Books store where they offer a small percentage to get them off your hands.
4. Rent out your parking spot
If you live near an area that draws lively crowds at nights and on the weekends, take advantage of drivers who are constantly circling your block for a parking spot. Apps like Monkey Parking, SpotHero, and Just Park will let you rent your driveway out for a fee to customers in the market — sometimes for up to a year if you wanted! Using the tool at a minimum few hours per week could help you pocket $200, making parking spot sharing a side hustle worthy of trying.
5. Recycle your old phone
There’s a chance you probably have a box of old phones stuffed somewhere in a closet, taking up unnecessary space in your home. If this is the case, consider recycling yours for cash. Companies like Giffgaff Recycle and Envirophone will let you scope out the current value of your old talking device, then turn it in for money. Most tools will send you money the same day and won’t make you pay for postage, so the transaction can be fast and fuss-free.
6. Get rid of your used clothes
Consignment and thrift stores are a great avenue for making money while doing good for your community. There are popular buy-sale-trade chain stores like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange which will peruse your bag of unwanted clothes then offer you a price based on seasonal demand. They let you make the choice of trading your apparel in for an in-store voucher or just receiving cash on the spot. Another benefit to this route is that it’s great for spring cleaning to make new space in your home. The usual amount is 50 percent in-store credit or 30 percent to walk away in extra cash.
7. Score free gift cards
Everyone loves a gift card. After all, there’s one for practically anything you could possibly need, whether it is online or in-store. It’s a real treat to save that debit card swipe and just hand your cashier your gifted piece of plastic. Ebates is a cashback site that doles out rewards for nearly every online purchase you make something. For popular retail chains like Walmart, Ebates will provide you up to 10% cash back for online purchases including free 2-day shipping and more.
8. Scan your grocery receipts for rewards
Grocery shopping is an inevitable task that you rely on to survive — why not make it a nifty way to earn money during your errand? Believe it or not, there’s a way to do just that. Fetch helps you save money simply by scanning in your receipts after grocery shopping. It’s that easy. Shoppers have access to rewards from shopping hundreds of brands from any grocery store you get your food from. The brands and products that fill Fetch fill your grocery store, so you don’t have to chase deals in order to save on your shopping trip. Even better, you don’t have to watch a long video ad in order to upload your photo and start redeeming points for gift cards instantly.
9. Drive people around
Make money on the side by joining a ride-sharing app as a driver. With Lyft and Uber you have control over your schedule, and in turn, the capability to make money aside from your normal day job. Based on the demand for trips in your area, you can earn hundreds of dollars a month based on demand in your area as well as the length of their trip and other factors.
10. Play an online scratch-off ticket
You can also make money and win a gift card from playing an online scratch-off ticket. An app called Luckstastic gives you the chance to get up to $10,000 in quick cash to use at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and dozens of other retailers from redeemable tokens you win by trying your luck at free games.
11. Rent out your place
Looking to make some extra money before an upcoming vacation? If you’ll be away from home for a while, it may be a good idea to look into renting out your place through websites like Airbnb or Spare Room as a side hustle. Doing so can help fund your own future travel plans while giving someone else the chance to enjoy theirs on a budget as well.
12. Become a secret shopper
Also called a mystery shopper, this side hustle will allow you the chance to earn up to $400 when you visit an establishment, make observations and return to the necessary parties with helpful notes about your experience. This job is versatile in that it can be done either online or in person, depending on the company. With Pinnacle you can earn up to $75 per assignment after you complete its accompanying survey within 12 hours. Intellishop lets you search nearby shops by zip code and has an easy-to-follow streamlined process for people new to the mystery shopping arena. Its payment method is Paypal, where you will receive your cash within 30 days of your completed assignment.
13. Babysit
On trusted sites like Sittercity and Care.com, you can dole out babysitting, caregiver or nanny services after undergoing a detailed background check. With the help of these sites, you’re also able to rely on the third-party service to assist in your payment without having to tackle it directly with the family you are working with. Care.com uses HomePay, a company that helps you understand the legality of things like payroll and taxes so that you’re getting the fairest treatment as an employee. Additionally, you can make your availability to whatever works best for your schedule, whether it’s part-time or full-time.
14. Charge money for your photos
In today’s digital climate, many brands are always looking for high-quality stock photos for their social media feeds and advertisements. If you’re a hobbyist photographer who takes pictures of architecture, people, or nature for fun, look into websites like Adobe, iStock, and Shutterstock for cashing in on side money to help fund your craft.
You also have the option of selling video and illustrations, so consider making a profit on something you already do in your spare time. It is possible for you to earn 33 percent for royalty fees every time your image is purchased on Adobe. On iStock expect to get paid up to 45 percent, and Shutterstock gives you an average of $1.88 per “On Demand” photos until you sell $500 worth of content, at which point your earnings bump up to $2.48 per photo.
15. Become a professional mentor
You can provide professional mentorship even if you don’t have a degree. If you have a track record for success within your field, use a website like SkillShare or CommonGenius to leverage your expertise by contracting out your services for a fee.
16. Teach an online course
Create a meaningful online course using a reputable site like Teachable. It’ll help you earn more lucrative income while adding even more impressive substance to your resume or portfolio. On this platform, you are able to curate multimedia lectures that tailor to the type of audience and demographic you’re seeking to inform. If you already have a website or blog, add compelling pages to it from the Teachable site to draw more engagement from potential students.
17. Perform various handyman services
TaskRabbit and Thumbtack work to connect people seeking handyman services. If you know how to lift heavy items, can assemble furniture or something else of that nature, go through a verification process to sign up as a contractor so you can earn extra income. Control your own rates and quotes based on your services offered and location.
18. Get paid to take surveys
If you happen to enjoy sharing your opinion online, you can do so by taking online surveys in exchange for money or rewards through various survey sites. InboxDollars gives you 11 ways to earn cash, including 5 bucks just for signing up! Springboard America enters you in a $1000 giveaway for registering on their site. Swagbucks has access to over 100 retailers when you give your time towards sharing thoughts or browsing the web through their search bar. While there’s a lot to choose from, average payment across these kinds of platforms range from 10 cents per survey to $15 for longer questionnaires.
19. Become a pet sitter
Another way of making passive income for your entertainment needs is by pet sitting. These days, there are tons of companies to help you streamline a process for matching with local dog owners in your neighborhood who are in need of someone to watch their dog while they are away. Rover and Wag! will let you determine your own schedule and availability.
If you’re not able to keep a pet for an extended amount of time, consider dog walking as another way to get your animal lover fix for an hour or two. If you make it a part-time job, expect to make $1,000 a month for sitting two to three dogs twenty-one days out of the month.
20. Host a dinner
Solo traveling is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. However, it can feel somewhat isolating when trying to find somewhere to have a meal. That’s why peer-to-peer focused companies like Eatwith and Meal Sharing provide travelers the opportunity to (safely) book authentic brunches, lunches, dinners and parties with others wanting to have enjoyable conversations and good food. As a host, you can profit within 48 hours of your event, making upwards of $1,100 in a night depending on the capacity of your space, number of food courses you serve and type of meal you make.
Bottom Line
Finding creative ways to make money doesn’t have to be draining and time-consuming. In fact, these days it is easier than ever to combine the hobbies you already enjoy doing and making them into a side hustle. Whether you’re seeking supplemental income as a part-time gig or wanting to make a full-time job out of it, you can sell your services, unwanted possessions, even scan in grocery receipts, to earn money that will help fund your need for other things. Take this list as a resource and pass it along to anyone else wanting to make extra cash as well.
