I often talk about ways to make extra cash on Making Sense of Cents because I genuinely believe it can transform lives. For me, earning extra money made a huge difference.
About five years ago, I was fresh out of college, worried about my student loans, and unhappy with my spending and saving habits. Then, I discovered side jobs and various ways to earn extra money, and everything changed.
Making extra money can help you:
– Pay off debt
– Save for things like vacations
– Stop living paycheck to paycheck
– Reach retirement sooner
– Feel less stuck at your job
– Diversify your income
Whether you have just an hour a day or can work 40 to 50 hours a week on top of your full-time job, there are plenty of ways to earn extra money.
If you’re wondering, “How can I make extra money?” you’re in the right place! Here are over 75 different ideas:
### Start a Side Business
1. **Start a Blog**: Blogging can be very lucrative. I’ve made over $5,000,000 through my blog. You can start your own blog for as low as $2.75 per month.
2. **Answer Surveys**: Websites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Pinecone Research pay you to take surveys and test products.
3. **Maintain Yards**: Offer services like mowing lawns, removing weeds, and cleaning gutters.
4. **House Sit**: Many websites offer housesitting gigs, sometimes with pay.
5. **Walk Dogs or Pet Sit**: Websites like Rover and Wag connect pet sitters with clients.
6. **Train Pets**: If you’re good with animals, consider training or grooming pets.
7. **Use Freecash.com**: Earn money by playing games, filling out surveys, and completing other tasks.
8. **Drive for Uber or Lyft**: Spend your spare time driving others around.
9. **Scoop Poop**: Not glamorous, but necessary.
10. **Shovel Snow**: Offer snow removal services in your neighborhood.
11. **Babysit or Nanny**: Babysitting can pay well, especially if you offer additional services.
12. **Fix Things Around Homes**: If you’re handy, offer repair services.
13. **Clean Homes**: Many people are willing to pay for cleaning services.
14. **Move Furniture**: Offer moving services, which can pay around $50 an hour.
15. **Take Photos**: If you’re skilled, consider photography gigs like weddings or events.
16. **Teach a Skill**: Offer lessons in personal training, art, music, or other skills.
17. **Tutor**: Help students with their studies or prepare for exams.
18. **Wash Windows**: Many businesses outsource this task.
19. **Detail Cars**: Offer car cleaning and detailing services.
20. **Create Balloon Animals**: This can be a fun job at events.
21. **Paint Homes**: Offer painting services for interiors.
### Find a Part-Time Job
22. **Work Extra Hours Over the Winter Holidays**: Companies like Target and UPS hire seasonal workers.
23. **Find a Part-Time Summer Job**: Fill your days with part-time work if you have summers off.
24. **Bartend**: Evening and weekend hours can fit well with other schedules.
25. **Work at a Restaurant**: Be a host, waiter, or cleaner.
26. **Substitute Teach**: Flexible and rewarding.
27. **Work in Hospitality**: Hotels, motels, and resorts often have openings.
28. **Work in Retail**: Retail jobs can offer good discounts.
29. **Guide Tours**: Lead tours in your area of expertise.
30. **Lifeguard**: Work at pools or water parks.
31. **Referee Sports Events**: Earn money by officiating games.
32. **Deliver Items**: Deliver food, groceries, flowers, and more.
33. **Lend a Hand on a Farm**: Farm work can be physically demanding but rewarding.
34. **Deliver Newspapers**: Early morning work that fits some schedules.
35. **Complete Chores for Others**: Be someone’s assistant.
36. **Help People with Disabilities**: Assist them in day-to-day tasks.
### Make Extra Money Online
37. **Help Others with Their Resume**: Offer resume writing services.
38. **Edit Articles**: Blogs need editors to catch errors.
39. **Manage Social Media Accounts**: Create strategies and manage content.
40. **Help Start Websites**: Offer technical assistance for new websites.
41. **Use Swagbucks**: Earn points for online searches and redeem them for cash or gift cards.
42. **Post on Social Media**: Get paid to advertise on your accounts.
43. **Write for Others**: Freelance writing can be profitable.
44. **Moderate Forums**: Some forums pay moderators.
45. **Test Websites**: UserTesting.com pays you to review and test websites.
46. **Virtual Assistant**: Help businesses with various tasks.
### Sell Your Stuff
47. **Sell on eBay**: Sell old clothes, electronics, and more.
48. **Sell on Craigslist**: Meet buyers locally.
49. **Sell to Secondhand Stores**: Stores like Plato’s Closet buy used clothes.
50. **Garage Sales**: Sell items directly to buyers.
51. **Sell Old Books**: Websites like Half.com buy used books.
52. **Sell Gift Cards**: Many websites pay for unused gift cards.
53. **Sell on Etsy**: Sell homemade items, vintage finds, and craft supplies.
54. **Sell Food**: Sell homemade goods at farmers markets.
55. **Sell Blood, Plasma, Eggs**: These can be sold for cash.
### Make Extra Money at Your Job
56. **Ask for a Raise**: Could be the easiest way to make more money.
57. **Get a Promotion**: Look for opportunities within your company.
58. **Work Overtime**: Take on extra hours if available.
59. **Earn Bonuses**: Many sales jobs offer bonuses.
### Rent Items
60. **Rent Your Garage Space**: Rent out unused space.
61. **Rent a Parking Spot**: Rent out an unused parking spot.
62. **Rent an Extra Room**: Rent a room in your home.
63. **Rent Textbooks**: Rent your textbooks to other students.
64. **Rent Your Car**: Rent out your car when not in use.
65. **Rent Wedding Decorations**: Brides often rent decorations to save money.
66. **Rent a Photo Booth**: Rent photo booths for events.
### Miscellaneous Easy Ways
67. **Bake Desserts**: Sell baked goods for events.
68. **Place Ads on Your Car or Home**: Get paid to advertise.
69. **Be an Extra in Movies or TV Shows**: Fun and potentially lucrative.
70. **Invest**: Start investing as soon as possible.
71. **Use Credit Card Rewards**: Earn cashback for using credit cards.
72. **Participate in Medical Studies**: Earn money by taking part in research.
73. **Create Graphics**: Offer graphic design services.
74. **Use Ebates**: Earn cashback for online shopping.
75. **Enter Contests**: Win cash, gift cards, and more.
76. **Recycle**: Earn money by recycling items.
77. **Mystery Shop**: Get paid to shop and dine out.
78. **Try InboxDollars**: Earn money by taking surveys and more.
79. **Become an Airbnb Host**: Rent out a room or your entire home.
80. **Freelance**: Offer services like writing, editing, and graphic design.
81. **Get Paid to Read Books**: Review books for money.
82. **Pick Up Litter**: Get paid to clean up local areas.
83. **Scan Grocery Receipts**: Use apps like Fetch Rewards.
84. **Food Delivery**: Deliver groceries or restaurant meals.
85. **Charge Scooters**: Charge rental scooters for companies.
86. **Sell Old Electronics**: Use Decluttr or Gazelle.
87. **Sell Clothing**: Use sites like Poshmark.
### Frequently Asked Questions
**What are some ways to make extra money?**
There are countless ways to make extra money, from starting a side hustle to selling items you no longer need.
**How do I make an extra $1000 a month?**
Many of the methods listed can help you earn an extra $1,000 a month. You might need to combine a few or put in more hours.
**How can I make money at home?**
Some options include starting a blog, running Facebook ads, selling on Amazon, proofreading, virtual bookkeeping, online tutoring, and more.
**What are the best ways to make extra money each month?**
The best methods depend on your skills, schedule, and interests. Options include blogging, taking surveys, selling items, dog walking, and more.