There’s an almost infinite number of ways to make extra money both online and offline. Whether it’s picking up a second job, doing odd jobs around the neighborhood, or selling stuff, you’re really only limited by your time and imagination. Ready to make extra money, here are 30+ more ideas for earning extra money on the side.
1. Get a second job
While the job market is tight and getting tighter, picking up a second job is a surefire way to earn extra money.
2. Take on a paper route
Paper routes aren’t just for kids anymore, and you can usually knock it out during the pre-dawn hours, so it doesn’t interfere with work.
3. Deliver phone books
Over the weekend, we got the latest edition of “The Real Yellow Pages” delivered to our doorstep. You won’t get rich, but it’s not particularly difficult, and you can do it on your own time.
4. Do yardwork/lawncare
More and more people are outsourcing their lawn care. Why not get a piece of the action? You can make a few bucks and get some exercise all at once.
5. Shovel (or plow) snow
For those in cold climates, you can make good money removing snow. Here again, you can also get some good exercise. Sure, snowfall isn’t as predictable as grass growth, but it’s a great alternative during the winter months.
6. Clean homes or offices
Just like lawn care and snow removal, there are a ton of people out there looking for help around the house.
7. Do tax prep on the side
Companies like H&R Block are always looking for temp employees during tax season. Thanks to Miss M for the tip.
8. Become a golf caddy
Sure, this is a job that is often done by teenagers, but there can be good cash in it.
9. Start babysitting
Babysitting can be quite lucrative — check out how much people pay babysitters — and it’s also very flexible.
10. Start pet-sitting
I know from personal experience that there’s good money in pet sitting… Whenever we travel we need to find someone to board our bearded dragon (seriously), and we always spend way more than we should.
11. Become a tutor
Do you live near a high school or college? Are there any subjects that you’re particularly good at? If so, then consider tutoring in your spare time.
12. Teach a language
For those who are fortunate enough to be fluent in a second language, you can make money teaching it to others. In some cases, people will even pay to chat over coffee with a “conversational partner” who is fluent in the language they’re learning.
13. Become a substitute teacher
Depending on your educational background, this can be a good source of cash, especially for at-home moms who want to get back into the workforce, but want hours that accommodate their kids.
14. Become an ump/ref for a local sports league
Around here, sports leagues are always looking for competent refs. Games are usually scheduled around business hours, and it pays pretty well.
15. Do freelance web design
If you have the skills, there are a number of online resources for finding web design gigs. If that doesn’t work, pound the pavement in your community. A lot of small companies don’t have much of a web presence and could use your help.
16. Do some freelance writing
As is the case for web design, there are a number of online resources for finding writing gigs. Dig around a bit and see if you can find anything that suits your interests.
17. Start a weblog in a lucrative niche
This site is a prime example of the fact that you can make money blogging. It’s not easy, but it can definitely be done.
18. Become a mystery shopper
Here again, there’s tons of info online, and there are even books about it.
18. Get paid to take online surveys
There are a number of reputable companies that pay people to take surveys online. While they’re not always accepting new members, you should check out Pinecone Research.
19. Participate in marketing focus groups
I actually did this a bit as a kid because we lived near a toy/game company. Thanks to Ashley for the tip.
20. Get paid to signup for trial offers
Sites like Cash Crate pay you to sign up for free trials — you can always cancel them so it’s truly free cash.
21. Maximize your credit card rewards
As long as you keep a lid on your spending and checking your free credit report, reward credit cards are a great way of generating a bit of spare cash on everyday expenditures.
22. Take advantage of signup bonuses
You can easily snag signup bonuses ranging from $25-$250 when you apply for a credit card or open a bank or brokerage account.
23. Play the 0% balance transfer game
Simply sign up for one or more 0% balance transfer credit cards and profit by plunking the proceeds in a high-yield savings account while you make the minimum payments.
24. Make the most of the money that you already have
Move your money to a high-yield online savings account or build a CD ladder in order to maximize your interest earnings.
25. Sell extra stuff from around the house
Clearing our extra stuff is not only a great way to make a bit of money, it’s also very cathartic. If you’re interested, be sure to check out my list of garage sale tips as well as my tips for selling stuff on eBay.
26. Sell your used textbooks
There are a number of sites online that will buy your books back from you directly. Thanks to Nick for the tip.
27. Take and sell digital photos
If you have a knack for photography, you might be able to generate some side income by selling stock photos.
28. Make and sell crafts
Here again, if you have a knack for it, you can make generate some income on the side by making and selling crafts — either at local shows or on eBay.
29. Sell craft designs
Instead of making the crafts yourself, why not work up some nice plans and sell those instead?
30. Donate or Sell plasma
When I was in college, a popular way to get beer money in certain circles was to sell plasma. It’s not really my thing, but it’s a viable option if you need cash in a pinch.
31. Collect and recycle aluminum cans for cash
While there’s not a huge amount of money in this, it’s a pretty easy thing to do, and it cleans up the environment. This is the very definition of a win-win.
32. Sell ad space on your car
Depending on your location, the make and model of your car, and your daily commute, you can actually make a decent amount of money by letting an advertising agency “wrap” your car with advertisements.
33. Rent out a spare room
Do you have an extra room in your house/apartment? Consider renting it out. You’ll not only defray your rent, but you’ll also be able to recoup a part of your utility costs.
If you have any ideas of your own, please leave a comment.