Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more information.
Have you ever been stressed about money, or lack of money? Most people have full-time jobs, but having more money at the end of the month could help you eliminate stress and reach your financial goals and dreams. Here are 30+ unique and creative ways that you can make extra money:
1. Become a rideshare driver
Driving people around is now a very lucrative business. Two of the biggest rideshare companies out there are Uber and Lyft, however many other companies are now coming onto the scene. If you have a reliable vehicle and time, driving for a rideshare service is definitely a solid way to make extra money.
Many rideshare companies offer bonuses and incentives to their drivers that you should take advantage of. Because rideshare driving is becoming a popular option for making money, make sure to set yourself apart from the competition by always keeping your car clean, offering water/snacks to your passengers, and knowing the fastest routes around your cities and communities.
2. Sell stuff on Ebay, Amazon or Craigslist
Do you have a lot of things around the house that you can get rid of or that you no longer use? One way to make extra money fast is to sell those things that are just sitting around the house collecting dust. Some of the most popular places to sell your stuff online are Ebay, Amazon and Craigslist.
Ebay and Amazon are great for selling because of how much traffic is generated to their sites on a daily basis. The more people you have seeing your items, the better chance you have to sell them. One advantage is you can sell to people around the world. One of the only disadvantages is that you are charged fees, so you have to factor that into your selling prices.
Craigslist is also a very popular website to sell your items and is geared toward selling person-to-person. It is used for mainly local transactions, so you typically do not sell to people that are not within close proximity to you. This is a good place to sell larger items like furniture because you do not have to worry about shipping them across the country.
3. Become a dog walker/pet sitter
Do you love dogs? Every time you see one in public, do you run up to pet it? What if you could spend quality time with a dog and get paid for it? Becoming a dog walker could be a great way for you to make extra income if you have the time and flexibility. Not only would you be helping a dog and his owner, but you also get some free exercise in the process and you can actually make a decent amount of money. A great company to try is Rover.
4. Get paid to do surveys online
Many companies value consumer opinions, which is why they will pay you to take surveys online. This can be a great way to make some extra money because you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Some survey sites pay more than others, but it could mean a larger time commitment on your part. Swagbucks is a good company to get started.
5. Do lawn care and yard work
Lawn care is no longer an activity that only teens participate in to make money. Lawn care has become a booming industry where anyone can make money if you are willing to put some time and physical effort into it. If you want to earn some extra money, you could start with mowing your neighbor’s yards and hopefully that will lead to more clients and referrals. Your neighbor may even ask you to do some other related yard work that you could charge for.
6. Become a Photographer
The market for photographers is continuing to grow, especially for freelance photographers. If photography has always been a passion or a hobby, consider making some decent extra money being a photographer on the side. Weddings and family photography are some of the biggest niches for photographers, but today there is high demand for photographers of pets, products, fine art, food and even real estate.
7. Rent out extra room in your house
This option is not for everyone, but if you are willing to share your house with someone else, it could mean a lot of additional monthly income for you. Before advertising that you have a room or space for rent, you probably want to check the laws in your city or town and make sure you are compliant. If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, make sure to check their rules as well.
8. House sit
Travelling is becoming more and more popular so many homeowners are looking for people to house sit while they are away. Many websites and apps now bundle house sitting with other services like pet sitting. With more responsibly comes higher rates for you and opportunities to make more money than just house sitting alone.
9. Become a wedding musician
Do you have any musical talents like singing, playing piano or playing a stringed instrument? Live wedding musicians are in high demand and with that comes a high price tag you can charge. This is a great way to make extra money, but it does involve you working on the weekend. Depending on where you live, you could probably make anywhere from $200-$1,000 per wedding ceremony.
10. Rent out your car
Do you have an extra car that you are not using? Maybe you have a car, but you do not regularly use it? No matter what your situation, you can actually rent out your car and make extra money. There are websites like Turo and others that let you rent out your car, and many offer insurance on top of your own private insurance in case something were to happen to your car.
11. Tutor
As long as you meet certain qualifications, tutoring is another great way to make extra money. Many tutoring jobs and gigs are now available online so you can tutor from the comfort of your own home. If you prefer tutoring in-person, this is still an option.
12. Turn your hobby into a side business (baking, crafts, graphic design etc.)
Do you have a passion or a hobby that you love to do? Many times, hobbies are a great stress reliever and a great way to make extra money. Imagine getting paid to do something that you love and already do. If you are into making crafts, you could sell on websites like Etsy or participate in local craft shows. Whatever your hobby is, there are probably ways that you can continue having fun and making money at the same time.
13. Become a handyman
Are you good at fixing things when they break or just keeping up on general maintenance? You may want to consider becoming a handyman and charging others for your services. Any homeowner or renter knows that things break and general upkeep of a home is hard work, so the demand for your services is always there.
14. Wash and detail cars
This is actually a fairly simple and profitable way to make some extra money. You need to buy some supplies and be able to physically handle the work, but the payoff can be great. You can have different pricing levels depending on the services you offer. You could offer things like exterior wash, tire shine, interior detail, bug removal, wax, vacuum, shampooing the carpet, etc.
15. Sell lightly worn clothing
Do you have extra clothes that you no longer wear or have never worn? Chances are, if you check your closet, you have many articles of clothing that you could part with. There are many websites like ThredUp or Tradesy where you can sell your clothes easily. You can also check your local community and see if there are stores you can sell your clothes to in-person.
16. Delivery driving
You can get paid for delivering things like groceries, takeout food and even retail items like clothing. Uber Eats, Doordash, and Grubhub are just some of the companies looking for reliable drivers who want to earn extra money.
17. Become a mystery shopper
If you love to shop, why not get paid to do it? A mystery shopper is a person who is paid to act like a regular, everyday shopper and then provides feedback. Many companies are interested in mystery shoppers because they can gauge how good or bad their employees and company are actually treating their customers.
18. Be a Translator
Are you fluent in more than one language? You could work on the side for a translation agency or even as a freelance translator. With companies global nowadays, many hire freelance translators on the internet. You can choose if you want to work online, in-person or both.
19. Event planning
Do you enjoy planning and organizing events? If planning and coordinating events is easy for you, maybe you should consider charging and making extra money being an event planner. Some examples of events you could plan include: weddings, birthdays, seminars, charity events, festivals, music events and many others.
20. Babysitting
Do you like being around children? This is probably an important qualification, since babysitting consists of constantly monitoring children while their parents are away. Depending on where you live and the number of children you are watching, you can make a decent amount of money per hour.
21. Become a Notary
Have you ever needed an important document notarized? A notary is a public official who witnesses those important documents signed and verifies the identities of the signers. Anyone can become a notary as long as you meet all state qualifications. Becoming a notary is a great way to make extra money, especially if you are mobile. You can pick your own hours and charge what you want for your services.
22. Have a garage sale
If you have a lot of stuff lying around your house that you would like to get rid of, consider having a garage sale. This is a quick way to make money and it helps to declutter your house. You do not have to worry about selling your items online or having to drive out and meet buyers because the buyers come to you.
23. Inspire others as a personal trainer
Is helping people improve their health a passion of yours? You can help others either one-on-one or online. This is a great way to make additional money because you can train on your own terms with clients that you choose to help.
24. Offer housecleaning services
Many people have busy lives and choose to hire housecleaners. This can be a fast way to make money for years to come. Make sure to stay organized and go the extra mile when cleaning because it could lead to multiple referrals.
25. Write an e-book
Do you have a subject that you know and love? You could consider writing an e-book and then publishing your book on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform or something similar. Many e-books are less than fifty pages, so you do not have to write a novel, but it does need to be quality work if you expect people to purchase it.
26. Referee or coach a team
If you have children, they have probably been involved at one point in some type of organized sport. Typically, the coaches and referees are paid a fee, whether per game or for the entire season. This is a great way to make extra income, especially if your child is already playing on a team.
27. Participate in a medical study
If you are willing to be a human “guinea pig,” you can actually make a decent amount of money. Typically, these clinical and research studies work around your schedule which is a plus. You will have to meet certain criteria in order to participate and as long as you are willing to “test” out products and services, companies will compensate you very well.
28. Test websites
With so many companies having an online presence, website testing has become extremely important. If a company’s website is not user-friendly or hard to understand, they want to know about it. This is why they are willing to pay people to test their websites to find defects or to review the overall look and functionality of it.
29. Join a focus group
If you are willing to participate and share your opinions in a group setting, a focus group is a great way to make extra money. Many companies experiment with products and services and want valuable feedback, which is why they hire people to be part of their focus groups.
30. Become a tour guide
Have you lived in your city or town for a while and know the ins and outs and all of the popular spots and attractions? An easy way to make extra money would be to become a tour guide. There are many websites that are looking for local tour guides to sign up and offer services.
Bonus: Write greeting cards
If you’ve purchased a greeting card in the last few months, you probably noticed that you have multiple choices. You can buy a greeting card for a variety of occasions including birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, thinking of you, sympathy and many others. Companies are always looking for new and unique card types and seeking freelance individuals to write cards. You can submit your ideas to many companies and if they accept your proposal, you could be making a decent amount of money per acceptance.
Summary
There are numerous unique and creative ways to make extra money. You may have other ways that are not included on this list. Making extra money will not only give you more of a cushion every month, but it can be used towards reaching all of your financial goals.