Going on a vacation or clearing that high-interest debt seems like an unachievable dream for most people surviving on limited funds. Your income may be paying bills, feeding the family, or getting your children a decent education. Fortunately, you don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck as there are multiple legit ways to make extra cash.
Read on as we explore 13 creative ways to supplement your current income.
Get Paid To Be a Mystery Shopper
Several companies and businesses hire mystery shoppers to determine their customer service quality. You can earn money by becoming a mystery shopper and visiting different companies undercover.
You then deliver a detailed report of your experience to the company and get paid. Some also offer free merchandise or food in exchange for your feedback. Companies like Market Force and Best Mark are excellent places to check out.
Earn Money Through Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to earn passive income. You get to earn a commission by promoting products or services. To get started, you must choose a niche, create content to attract the right audience and turn your traffic into affiliate customers.
For example, if you select the parenting niche, you could create content around parenting topics, such as sleep training or potty training, and find affiliate links to sleep training products that earn you a commission when someone clicks and buys the product from your links.
Share Your Knowledge Through Tutoring Services
Are you an expert in programming, math, or foreign languages? You could share your knowledge by tutoring individuals offline or online and earn extra cash. The amount you charge will depend on your expertise, experience, and the subjects in demand. Do your research to determine the tutors in demand before creating a profile on sites like Care.com, Tutor me, or Tutor.com. You can also advertise your tutoring services in your community or local schools.
Sell Handmade Crafts
Do you enjoy knitting, crafting leather products, or customizing mugs? You can turn this into a lucrative side gig and earn extra cash. Consider selling your handmade crafts on sites like Etsy or Shopify at a fee. Potential earnings will vary depending on the product you sell and the quantities.
Manage Social Media for Businesses
You might be spending a lot of time scrolling on social media when you could earn extra cash managing social media for businesses. Social media managers help companies create brand awareness, respond to queries, market their services, and regularly update their social media pages. Some companies will pay $20 per hour to manage and update their social media accounts.
Have a Garage Sale To Sell Unused or Unwanted Items
Consider having a garage or yard to sell unused items like old furniture, toys, electronics, equipment, clothes, etc. Organize all unused items and decide on the best day for a yard sale before setting the stand-up. Spread the word to your local community by giving out flyers advertising the sale and have neighbors and family help you with the process.
Rent Out Your Home
Renting out a spare room in your home is another legitimate way to make extra cash. Consider listing your space on AirBnB to attract individuals looking for short-term rental properties. You may have to replace some items and clean up to ensure a comfortable space. Review the rental agreement to ensure you comply with the set requirements. With Airbnb, you can create a listing and get reservations in hours.
Start Dog Walking or Pet Sitting Services
You should consider dog walking or pet sitting if you love pets and don’t mind spending your free time around them. Apps like Rover and Wag have on-demand dog walking, so you can choose a schedule that works for you. Alternatively, you can freelance and offer different clients dog walking services. That gives you the freedom to choose your working hours and preferred clients.
Get Paid for Your Creative Skills on Freelancing Platforms
Can you design websites, write impeccably, or provide translation services? You can get paid for your creative skills on freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. There are a lot of niches to explore on these platforms, depending on your interests. You need to create a profile detailing your experience, specialty, and rates. Once approved, you can pitch to potential clients and make extra cash.
Test Out Applications and Websites
Becoming a user tester is another creative way to make money. Companies will compensate you to understand if their application or website meets the customer’s demand before introducing it to the market. You’ll have to complete a short test to get accepted, and the approval time can vary. Sites like Userlytics, BetaTesting, and UserZoom are great places to start.
Display Ads on Your Car
Companies like Carvertise pay you to place an ad on your car. The best part is that you don’t have to change your regular route to make extra cash. Additionally, you can refuse to participate if you feel that the content displayed goes against your ethics or morals. You can earn an average of $100-$400 monthly by advertising company ads on your vehicle.
Grow a Garden and Sell Your Produce
If you have extra space in your yard, you can grow fresh produce like vegetables, tomatoes, carrots, etc., and sell it to local shoppers. You can also sell the produce in a weekly farmers market. Consider planting seasonal items that your customers are more likely to buy.
Rent Out Equipment and Tools
Do you have photography equipment like a camera or drone you don’t use? Farm equipment that is in storage or lawn clearing equipment? Consider renting out any unused equipment and tools at a fee.
Supplement Your Income
There are plenty of opportunities to make extra cash both online and offline, whether you’re looking to turn your passion into a profitable venture or a side gig to supplement your income. Leverage the resources you have, skis, and time to find an opportunity that suits your preferences.
However, you need to watch out for scams by going through reviews on forums like Reddit and YouTube. Do your homework to ensure you deal with a trustworthy and legitimate company.
