Whether you need cash like yesterday, want to start an emergency fund, or daydream about jet setting, let me help you jumpstart your financial goals with these top ten ways to make extra money.
When your boss isn’t freely handing out raises, you need to brainstorm your potential earning options fast. Let’s look at ten ways to make extra money.
Julie Thompson
Julie Thompson is a professional content writer who has worked with a diverse group of clients, including online agencies, tech startups and global entrepreneurs. Julie specializes in current business trends, making money online, and finance.
1. Become a Pinterest virtual assistant (VA)
Being a virtual assistant (VA) can vary in tasks, from replying to emails to setting up appointments. More often than not, VAs work remotely and can specialize in specific software, industry, or social media.
As a Pinterest VA, you will be designing Pinterest pins, writing pin descriptions, setting up posting schedules, using an auto-scheduler, and Pinterest advertising.
While you should have an eye for design, motivation to write, and excellent work discipline, you can be a Pinterest VA with little to no experience.
Not sure where to start? Check out my post on how to become a Pinterest VA.
2. Sell Printables
If you want to make a product and sell it, but doesn’t know where to begin, you could consider opening an Etsy printables shop.
Opening a shop like this offers you a ton of options because printables are simple to make and can be customized for a wide range of niches.
The majority of the work is done once you create your printables and learn how to promote them. Plus, you don’t have to worry about shipping, keeping up with inventory, or constant updating, printing, and more. It really is simple1
All you need to get started is to figure out your niche, design the printables, and upload them to Etsy and start marketing them.
This is a great side hustle for people who don’t have a lot of time, space, or money to get started.
3. Start a dog bakery
In 2022 alone, pet owners spent $11 billion on pet treats. While dog treats remain at 78% of sales, cat treats continue to climb.
If you like to bake and want to learn the best ingredients for your furry friends, selling pet treats could quickly yield you extra money. Watch my free workshop if you want to start a dog treat business.
4. Sell online courses
You don’t need to be an award-winning author, athlete, or scholar to sell online courses.
If there is a topic you are passionate about and have spent a lot of time learning the details, you can sell an online course to teach others what you have learned.
Before making a course, take the time to view a few high-selling courses in your niche. Doing so lets you understand what people like about the course and what could be improved.
High-selling courses always add content after the fact to support viewers’ questions. The constructive criticism may even lead to the creation of your next course.
5. Dabble in dropshippingor print on demand
Dropshipping is a low-risk way to start an online business. You don’t have to prepay for inventory; you are simply the go-between.
You can find suppliers that will sell you products at a wholesale price and decide on a markup to earn profit.
If you want to get a little more custom or niche down, I think print on demand is a lot more fun.
Print on demand is not the same as dropshipping.
You can design products and use a print-on-demand service to make and deliver the products you create.
How it works is you add the products to your existing website, an e-commerce storefront like Etsy or Shopify, or a social media platform.
Realistically, you can build wealth in virtually any product category without needing a physical store or storage space.
This free guide shares the most popular topics for print on demand niches.
6. Rent out your space
Get creative and rent out your unused space for recurring revenue.
With the high cost of housing, 44% of Americans are working at least one extra job to meet their monthly bills.
If you are fortunate to have an unused guest bedroom in your house or a mother-in-law suite, you can use it as one of the ways to make extra money.
Have an unused barn, shed or building on your property? Rent out your storage space. From storing extra vehicles or storing someone’s boat in the cooler months, this is a mostly passive way to make money using what you have.
Always run a thorough background check on your prospective tenant, research state and federal laws regarding landlord laws and responsibilities, and set clear rules upfront about boundaries and payment date(s).
7. Start a blog
Starting a blog can be one of the most profitable side hustles that can become a full-time job. In fact, in less than a year, I could quit my day job and make a full-time living blogging.
Check out my post on how to start a blog in 15 minutes or less. I’ll walk you through all the steps so you can leave your 9 to 5 and be your own boss.
For some extra inspiration, it only took me a few months of blogging to make my first $61.83. You can read my first income report here!
8. Build a Fiverr account
There are plenty of ways to make extra money by building a Fiverr account.
If you already have a gig-type profession or hobby, or are looking to start offering various services. This can range from offering consultation services related to your day job or pursuing a new line of work.
The following categories are just a few that sell well.
- Writing project descriptions
- Graphic design
- Custom excel spreadsheets
- Niche WordPress websites
- Copywriting
- Scriptwriting
- Logo design
- Resume writing
- Logo design
- Social media video editing
- Voiceovers
- Video editing translation services
- Animation
Remember to promote your Fiverr services to friends and family, social media, etc.
If you can bring a new user to Fiverr, you will receive 100% of your pay and avoid the 20% Fiverr typically takes to market your gigs.
9. Use your phone
Your grocery receipts can earn you money if you use a smartphone app like Ibotta.
Simply shop as usual, snap a photo of your receipt, and you can save anywhere from fifty cents to five dollars on everything you purchase.
Even after 10+ years, Kristin is still using this app and earns cash back on it regularly!
You’re not required to purchase name-brand goods either. Numerous cash-back and coupon options are compatible with products from any brand, including store brands and cheaper options.
When you register here, you can also get a $10 cash bonus after your first scan!
10. Become an Influencer
If you want to work with and discuss brands you love, becoming an influencer could be an excellent addition to your income.
Choose a niche you are passionate about and can easily follow trends like fashion or tech.
Focus on building your audience through video platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
The more popular you get, the more offers you will receive from brands that want to take advantage of your engaged audience.
10 ways to make extra money
Whether you choose one of my top ten ways to make extra money, or you choose your own path, its vital to get started ASAP.
The quicker you sign up, fill out applications, or get creative, the faster you’ll have cash in your pocket.
Comment below and tell me how you’ll make an extra $500!
