Guestpost by Cora Gold
With prices rising across the world, you might be feeling a bit more financial strain lately. While many people work multiple jobs, others might be looking for extra income for the first time.
There’s a side hustle out there for everyone. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ways you can earn extra money this year when you need it most.
1. Have a Yard Sale
There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned yard sale to rake in some extra cash. While it does require a little bit of planning, you might be surprised by how much money you can make from a yard sale. While most sales are happening online these days, some people still enjoy going to yard sales as a hobby. It’s similar to antique store shopping or flea market hopping.
You could even get some friends involved and make it a group sale, which could be so much fun. What sounds nicer than hanging out in your yard with some friends and getting paid to do so? Play a yard game like cornhole in between sales and make it a fun little event.
2. Rate and Review
If you’re an avid online reviewer, this is the gig for you.
It takes a while before you start generating substantial income, but this is something that would be fun to do regardless. You can listen to music in your free time and rate the artists when you feel like it. Before you know it, you’ll have some extra cash flow. Better reviews make more cash, so be specific.
For all of the bookworms out there, you can do this with books, too. All you have to do is sign up to receive free books online. You get to choose what device you read the books on and select a book from the ones they provide. Then, you simply leave a review. The first review you write is free, but you could get paid just for writing your opinion about a book you read afterward. How fun!
3. Sell Stuff Online
Consignment shops are being overtaken by websites like eBay and Poshmark that take all your gently used clothing. While you can still gather your items and take them to a consignment shop near you, selling online is more accessible and generates more income. Most everyone is clicking and scrolling instead of actually combing through racks nowadays.
You know you have some stuff in your closet you wore once and will probably never wear again. What are you keeping it for? Let go of it and make some money off of it. You can also sell your unwanted jewelry or trade them in for something new. Some choice pieces, like jewelry, watches or other valuables, may well be worth more than you’re expecting to get.
Purging your gently used clothes and jewelry can be liberating, and it’s a great way to make some quick bucks.
[Jonathan: Be wary of the online scammers, my rule: They need to come and pick it up with cash]
4. Host a Dinner Party
If you love to cook, this might be the perfect option for you to gain some spending money. Through Eatwith, you can sign up to be a host and earn up to $700.
You can choose how many people you’re willing to cook for and when you’re available to do so. That’s it! Dinner parties are so cool, especially for people who travel frequently and want a home-cooked meal instead of eating out. They’re also more intimate and private for small groups than a restaurant.
[Jonathan: Nice one!]
5. Take Some Photos
Photographers are everywhere, but it seems like they’re always booked. If you have a natural talent for photography and a decent camera, why not offer some photography on the side? You would need to charge less than professional photographers, but you could still score a nice chunk of change by taking photos. Scour YouTube for some free editing techniques and wow your customers with your finished product.
Clients will likely tell some friends or share the photos on social media, and then – boom! You’ll have a nice side gig. You could also reach out to professional photographers in your area to see if they need a secondhand shooter for any upcoming events. Even if they don’t pay you for your time, you could gain insight and experience to implement in the photos you take on your own.
6. Sell Stock Photos
While we’re on the subject of taking photos, why not sell some you already have? This is right up your alley for some extra money if you enjoy taking pictures. You could do some research and look for limited or rare photos and plan to take some like them to ensure they’ll sell.
Photography is such a fun hobby. If you’ve always been interested in it but haven’t had time to learn, what better time than the present? Learning can be so simple now with free tutorials at your fingertips. You just have to commit.
7. Sell Used Books
Do you have any old college textbooks lying around? What about novels that you never got around to reading and probably never will? Any books that were given to you as gifts that you never plan on reading? If you’re a book lover, chances are good you said yes to at least one of those questions.
Do you really need all of those books? Take at least a few off your own hands and sell them online. You can quickly scan the barcode and see how much you’d get for them. If it’s not worth it to you, then keep it! It might even be fun just to see how much they go for. If you’re dedicated to your books, then keep them! You could even keep this idea on the back burner just in case.
8. Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping is when you are paid to visit all sorts of shops and restaurants to report on how they are performing. This is usually done through an agency who then provides you with a guide on the things you need to observe during your visit. I [Jonathan] did it twice for the local movie theater in Luxembourg, and although I got 2 free tickets and a small compensation I needed to report on the tidiness of the ticket booth, the friendliness of the staff (and if they try to upsell you candies), the cleanliness of the movie theater, your waiting times, etc.
9. Mow Some Yards
It seems like summer is getting hotter and hotter. Those who can’t or don’t want to get out in the heat might love an offer to mow their yards for some cash. If you enjoy mowing, you could invest in a riding mower or a zero-turn mower and get your money back by quickly mowing people’s yards with your fancy new equipment.
This is an intelligent way to be able to afford something you wanted to buy anyway. It’s also a great way to help people. If it’s been raining on your neighbor’s day off every week, they might not have had the time to get out and mow their lawn. Go offer to help them out for a small fee. Similarly, you could offer to rake or leaf-blow their leaves in the fall. You would not only make a little money, but you’d also be a friendly neighbor!
10. Craft It Up
Is crafting one of your favorite pastimes? If you enjoy making things, why not sell them for a profit? It’s easier than you might think to set up an account on Etsy or similar sites that focus primarily on selling homemade goods.
You could make almost anything and sell it online. From t-shirts to hanging door signs, the sky is the limit. You might be surprised how many people will pay top dollar for something homemade rather than manufactured in a warehouse. If making crafts is fun for you, give it a shot! What do you have to lose?
Do Your Research
There are so many side-hustles out there that are fun and relatively easy to do. You just have to conduct some research to find which one will be the most beneficial to you and your wallet.
About the Author
Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine Revivalist. She has a passion for living life to the fullest and inspiring others to do the same. Follow Cora on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
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I would like to thank Cora once again for her excellent suggestions on how to make some easy extra money, the timing could not be better!
If like Cora you wish to collaborate for guest posting or sponsored posts please do not hesitate to reach out by e-mail at jon@joneytalks.com and of course, for everyone, do follow us on social media as well for more great content, check our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and join our e-mail list. I would love to connect with you!