20 Awesome Ways To Earn Extra Money

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There are ALWAYS ways to make money: I was recently shocked to read a highly negative opinion that “many people have no way to earn more money”. Not only is this completely false (except perhaps in cases of severe ill health) but it’s not the kind of attitude that’s going to get you far! In truth, there are a mountain of ways to earn more money, that are available to all kinds of people.

Here are 20 superb ideas to bring in some cash. I aimed to include something for people from all walks of life:

1. Sell Some Of Your Old Stuff On eBay (do this first!)

Most people have items they no longer really need – and it never ceases to amaze me that so many people have basements stuffed to the ceiling full of things they will probably never actually use again. I’m also “guilty as charged” – after a period of great online income, I found that without even trying I had accumulated a mountain of stuff.

eBay to the rescue! Have a “cull” through your home and dig out items that are not too large to ship, not too fragile, easy to box up, and would fetch over $20. Sort out your stuff, get rid of your junk and take a bite out of your money problems at the same time. I did this in 2020 and it worked really well for me.

You’d be amazed at what you can sell on eBay. I once sold a dead laptop on eBay! I explained with absolute clarity that the computer was dead as a doorstop, that some of the parts may or may not be working, and that I made no guarantees whatsoever. I sold it and received positive feedback from the buyer – because they knew what they were getting and were obviously planning to “scrap” the computer and salvage some working parts.

Tip – I always select the “buy now only” option when selling on eBay. I find I get more, quicker sales that way – so long as the item is priced to sell – in other words just under the “going rate”. Many serious buyers prefer to buy there and then when they have decided they want something. They don’t want to wait for a few days and see if they won (or up their bid).

Another thing that’s hugely important is being a “good seller”. Always be meticulously honest when describing your items and any flaws they may have, package your items impeccably with excellent padding, and follow through well with communications and transaction details. You want that good feedback. I have 100% positive feedback from well over 100 transactions and the amount of trust it builds is invaluable.

Bigger items could possibly be sold locally on Craigslist.com, Gumtree and similar.

ou might even be able to clear out enough space with all the junk you get rid of, that you can also free up some space and make some money renting it out (see no. 5 below). And there’s also potential to create an “eBay store” and turn buying and selling on eBay into a business.

2. Teach Others What You Already Know

Everyone has developed and acquired skills and knowledge of some kind. You can make money from these. Possible monetization options to investigate include not only blogging but one-on-one tuition, giving workshops or lectures, creating PDF “how-to” documents or even a complete course.

Now that digital conferencing has come of age, you are now in a position where you can offer these services worldwide! Zoom seems to have become the default platform for one-on-one coaching or group conferencing, however Skype and various other platforms also support video calls of course.

You can promote your services through your existing online network, locally or via tutoring platforms such as Wyzant.

3. Asset Consolidation

Asset management – putting what you already have to work – is one of the real “secret keys” to wealth. Many people have assets sitting around “doing nothing”; so consider trading in assets / commodities / items that are not making you much money for assets that will earn greater revenue. This could be anything from a stock that is going nowhere through to an old painting that is gathering dust in the attic – and funneling that cash into an investment or business opportunity. Cash is one example of a “dormant asset”. It does not grow by itself, in fact even if you manage not to spend it, it sits there shrinking due to inflation! Aside from an “emergency fund”, don’t leave money lying around idle – make it work for you!

4. Content Libraries

If you create digital content (image / audio / video) you have the option to make it available on one of the many platforms that distribute it. Top content creators can make very good incomes, depending on quality and quantity of work they make available. It’s often a “side hustle” for photographers and audio / video producers to make an additional income from their “B stock”, though top quality content will of course be in higher demand.

Images: There are many libraries – such as Shutterstock – which enable you to upload digital images (either graphics or photos). If you have a good digital camera and some photography / Photoshop / Illustrator skills, there is unlimited potential here. Can you think of imagery that is rare in other places but common in your location?

Audio: If you make beats / sound effects / original compositions / soundscapes try Epidemic Sound or AudioJungle

Video: Pond5 was the first platform for this. They allow you to set your own prices and take a percentage that varies depending on whether you assign exclusive or non-exclusive rights. Try also a href=”https://submit.shutterstock.com” target=”_blank”>Shutterstock and Wirestock

5. Rent Out A Room

Now that you’ve cleared out that spare room and sold that mountain of stuff, you could find a tenant! 😉 Be careful to find a good, respectful person and you have a great source of additional revenue. Background checks are valuable. There’s also the potential of AirBnB, subject to your local regulations of course. Also, if you work for a big multinational corporation, the kind that often flies people around, you may be able to earn money making rooms available to people who work for the company. Another option, if you live in a picturesque or touristy area, is to consider creating holiday or B&B accommodation. Other options to consider, if feasible, include renting garage, workshop, garden cabin or studio space.

6. Provide Online Services

This is truly an opportunity that is open to pretty much anyone with a computer. If it can be done on a computer, it can be offered as a service. The freelancer marketplace has truly come of age since the “big shutdown” of 2020 – and there is TONS of freelance work available right now!

There are numerous marketplace platforms for freelance online workers now, but the one that seems to have won out is fiverr.com. You can either bid on jobs that have been offered or offer your own services.

A quick look through Fiverr’s categories will show you just how diverse the opportunities are here. Web / graphic design, coding, WordPress, data entry and other computer work, article writing, proofreading, bookkeeping, video production, voice over… and so many more.

This is the kind of venture that can start out as a side hustle and scale according to your time and how lucrative it turns out to be – so getting started here is a relatively low risk enterprise.

Fiverr.com keeps I think 10% of the revenue.

Here are more options to investigate for freelance computer warriors, coders designers & more:

Freelancer.com
Guru.com
Upwork.com
Onlinejobs.ph (Philippines)

7. Busk

(Note – being a street performer in some locations may not be legal or may require a special permit, please check.)
If you have circus skills, are a great instrumentalist, or are a theater performer of some kind, street performance can be a fantastic way to earn some extra money. You have to be able to impress. You also gain a huge amount of exposure to your work this way and it may also be possible in theory to use it as an opportunity to sell CDs, promote performances / sell tickets, build your social media following or collect names for an email list – to whom you can then promote further music / shows / etc.

8. Create And Sell Art And Crafts

From making clothes through to making candles, carving wood through to making stained glass, there are many avenues for the crafty. A good thing about this is that you can do it small-scale – and turn an enjoyable pastime into a way to make some extra cash.

The classic outlet for this kind of work now is Etsy, which is a perfect platform for makers / creatives to sell their work. Ebay is of course another option and it makes sense to display your work in more than one location so as to increase your visibility.

A popular option is selling printables, which is generating surprisingly large incomes for top sellers – up to five or even six figures per month! That’s highly atypical but shows the potential. You can find tutorials easily enough with some searches.

A “real world” option for artists is to approach businesses (typically small retail or cafes, but there are many options here so be creative) offering them a percentage of sales in return for hanging their paintings.

9. Ask For A Raise

It sounds obvious, but have you actualy asked?

The first step towards this is of course in doing excellent work. From there, it might be as simple as asking! If the answer is no, don’t give up: You could try following up with “So, what would I need to do in order to get this raise?” Speaking as someone who has hired tons of people, not a single one has ever asked me this question directly. And I would love it if they did! Done in the right way, this can demonstrate great ambition, drive and value. You are the kind of person who they want to keep around – this is what you need to “sell” here.

10. “Micro Tasking”

There are now online platforms which connect people needing one-off tasks done with people who can show up and help. Examples of tasks might be shopping, cleaning, assembling furniture, deliveries and more. The #1 marketplace for these services is TaskRabbit.com. Looking at the site you can see that numerous taskers are charging very desirable rates – so you can see that this does have real potential!

11. Provide Local Services

You know it’s true: There is always work that needs doing. One of the key skills here – ask for it! One tactic I pursued successfully in the past was to send a mass email out to my entire list of friends and family simply asking for work, listing what I am interested in doing and seeing who is interested. Another tactic is to use spare time such as a lunch hour simply approaching businesses and simply asking if they have any work. Being proactive makes a good impression. There’s also the option of “odd jobs”: Mow lawns, cut hedges, clean, wash cars, clean windows, do dump runs or deliveries. There is unlimited potential for the driven and industrious to succeed. Try creating a small flyer and posting it through letterboxes locally.

12. Garage / Yard Sale

If you are like most people, you have a basement, attic or even whole rooms full of clutter. Get rid of it. You can also free up your storage space and potentially save even more money this way! Team up with your neighborhood to hold a big yard sale, a lot more people show up that way. Another yard sale strategy – if you are an expert in spotting valuable items, you can buy from yard sales and sell on eBay. As they say, ‘The money is made on the buy, not the sell.’

13. Collect Recycling

Instead of just handing it in, consider that there are organizations that will pay for separated recycling. It might seem “low status” to some – but you’re helping the environment and therefore your children’s children. What could possibly be higher status than that? Aluminum cans fetch a particularly good price.

In California for example, most beverages other than milk, wine, and distilled spirits are subject to California Refund Value (CRV). If you see a symbol that says CA CASH REFUND or CA CRV, the container is eligible to be recycled for cash.

The current rate is 5¢ for most glass bottles, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans less than 24 ounces. 10¢ for equal to 24 ounces and larger. Many people don’t bother – which presents an opportunity for someone willing to put in the work.

14. Collect Missing Money Owed To You

Missingmoney.com is a famous web site that enables people to search for money that may be due to them. An amazing number of people find money that is due to them this way.

15. Teach English Online

If you are a native English speaker, you have a fantastic work-from-home option available to you – teaching English. English, being the most widespread language in the world, has become the default language for global business. It’s also a somewhat tricky language to learn – so it’s in high demand.

I met a lady who teaches English online using Skype. She basically chats in English with professionals in other countries, some of whom are very highly educated, and they pay her a fantastic hourly rate, I think it is around $40/hr. She gives them a great opportunity to practice real conversation with a native speaker and they pay for her time.

16. Sell Home-Grown Produce Or Flowers

Something for the gardeners and green-thumbs among you. Often, local stores and restaurants will be delighted to take locally grown produce. Small-scale farming can in some cases be surprisingly lucrative – for example growers of microgreens: Check out this tutorial $10,000 A Month Growing Microgreens In A Basement.

One note – be aware of Codex Alimentarius – there may be important paperwork that needs to be taken care of. I’m not sure of the full details of this and it may only apply to those generating larger revenues – but in truth I admit this is not my area of expertise and I don’t know. Be sure that what you are doing is above board.

17. Youtuber

If you have the knack of making videos that are highly useful or entertaining, this one is for you. Youtube has now become a fully-fledged business model for numerous people. You would be amazed at the number of Youtubers who are earning five figures per month!

There are various revenue streams available from Youtube – from using the platform’s built-in advertising through to selling merchandise, driving traffic to a blog and promoting other products and services.

In order to be eligible for advertising, you need over 1,000 subscribers and over 4,000 hours of watch time in the past 12 months.

What many don’t realize is that Google pays a portion of the advertising revenue to the video owner and the advertisers pay based on the number of times the ad is displayed. Essentially, you get paid for how many views you get.

See my full tutorial 18 Awesome Ways To Make Money With Youtube – Including Methods To Earn Money Without Making Videos!

Fun fact: It’s rumored that they guys who created the silly “super viral” video of a “Cat on a Roomba” made enough money to buy a house.

18. Put Advertising On Your Web Site

If you have a web site that gets some decent traffic, try putting Adsense ads on it. If you use Adsense, pay very careful attention to the terms of use, and you’ll start earning money while you sleep. There are numerous Ad systems and the more traffic you generate, the more willing they will be to pay you for access to it. If you have traffic, internet Advertisers WILL contact you out of the blue offering you deals.

There are plenty of tips online for how to maximize Ad revenue which are worth further research – but the best simple advice I can give is this; Create high quality content and generate interest in your pages through having something people really want. Another Ad system that I think is very worthwhile is Clickbank. You can choose products to be an affiliate for, and Clickbank’s system has some very sophisticated automation features that truly make automated revenue a possibility.

19. Pet Sitter / Dog Walker

I’ve done this one on a small scale – when a friend went on vacation I would take care of his dog. We had a large area out back with a high fence – and all I really had to do was check up on the dawg and give him some “human time” a few times a day, take him for a walk, feed him according to instructions and with food provided, and make sure his water bowl is topped up.

If you love animals and have a space which is ideally suited to them, have a calm, caring temperament and enjoy / have experience and skill working with them – this could be perfect for you. You could advertise locally or online, or both.

20. Earn 8% On Your Savings With Stablecoins:

Stablecoins are a form of cryptocurrency with a value that is “pegged” to that of a “real currency”. For example Tether (USDT), which has a valuation matching that of the US dollar. There are various platforms that permit you to transfer fiat currency an convert it to Stablecoins, which can then be parked and earn a very respectable interest rate. Nexo (affiliate link) for example currently offers 7% on Stablecoins – which beats the heck out of the dreadful interest rates (perhaps 0.1%) currently being offered by the high street banks. I’ve found Nexo to be a reliable platform and it’s the one I use personally.

Well, there it is. I hope you have seen from this that there really are a mountain of possible ways to earn more money! You can do it, so get cracking! 🙂

Need More?

Check out my tutorial on 50 Of The Best Ways To Save Money. Combine those savings with your extra earnings and move on up!