Unless you are one of those few lucky people in the world who have transcended material possessions and the pursuit for a more financially comfortable life, you are probably trying to figure out how you could make a bit of extra money.
In this article, we will be focusing on a number of different ways in which you can do just so – from quick savings that you can make without much hassle, to new business endeavors.
Negotiate
There are quite a few expenses all of us take for granted, such as the gym membership, the car insurance premiums we pay, our mobile phone plans, cable and internet and so on. We tend to see them as set in stone. Well, in a surprisingly large percentage of cases, they aren’t. Namely, the companies that offer these services will often be ready to negotiate your rates and/or fees if you tell them that you are having trouble affording them.
The math is simple here – they lose more if you walk away than if they give you a discount that they can probably afford anyway.
Ramit Sethi from I Will Teach You to be Rich has made a great video on this.
In addition to this, you might want to consult an accountant and find out if you can restructure any outstanding loans or check if you really need to pay as much tax as you do, for example. More often than not, you will find out that you are bleeding far too much money.
Drive people around
Uber, Lyft and similar services have become ubiquitous around the world and they are a great opportunity to make some money here and there. If you own a car, that is. Applying to become a driver is quite simple and easy and you can earn quite a bit by driving just a few hours every week. Of course, the more you drive, the more money you can expect to make. This is a great article on being an Uber driver.
Consider Airbnb
Depending on where you live and how much space you have, you can also consider renting out a room or your apartment on Airbnb. People are always looking for a cheap place to stay and if you have extra space, you can easily make money this way. Some people even pair up and live together while they rent out the other space, splitting the profits. This is especially handy if your city or town hosts popular events that attract people from out of town, or if you happen to live somewhere that’s popular with tourists.
Spend some time with animals
Dog walking and pet sitting are a great way to make extra money if you enjoy spending time with animals. Pet sitting has its seasons, so to say, as you are most likely to get these jobs around major holidays when people travel and sometimes have to leave their pets behind. Dog walking is more of an everyday job and it can be quite lucrative, especially in large cities where most people can’t afford backyards.
Sell your body
Before you get all up in arms about this, no, we are not suggesting that you give the world’s oldest profession a go. We are talking about a legal way to make some money – taking part in medical or scientific studies and tests. If you happen to live near a major university, chances are they are conducting a study that you can be a part of and that is also paid. Don’t be fooled, these can be quite challenging, but the money is often really good. Pharmaceutical companies also pay for test subjects and if you are not too afraid and if you are generally healthy, you might consider these too.
Start a dropshipping business
Ecommerce websites have become a big part of the retail industry and perhaps the most interesting approach to selling stuff online is dropshipping. In dropshipping, you basically act as a middleman between the manufacturers and the customers. The investment is minimal and it is possible to start really, really small before you pour more money into it. Once you succeed in building a brand for your dropshipping business, you can easily scale it up. Shopify has a great guide on this kind of online shop.
Start writing
Pretty much every company out there has a blog nowadays. Add industry-specific and general-niche blogs to that count and we are talking hundreds of thousands of content resources that have to be updated regularly in order to stay relevant. Someone has to write all that content and that is where you can find your chance. It may take you a while to hone your skills and make a name for yourself, but content writers can bring in some serious money and the best thing is you can take on work when you feel like it. It goes without saying that you should focus on an industry and niche that you are familiar with and that you enjoy writing about, at least at first.
Teach online
People are turning more and more to online courses when trying to learn a new skill and this has resulted in a wide variety of opportunities for people with certain aptitudes. Regardless of what you’re good at, there is a chance that someone is looking to learn about it.
You can create a course that you will then sell on platforms such as Udemy or you can teach people live online. It all depends on how you wish to handle it and how much time you have. If nothing else, you can teach English online to people who wish to learn it or brush upon their conversation skills.
Pick up odd jobs online
You can find plenty of microjobs online – jobs that may not pay too much, but that can add up to a nice little sum over time. For instance, you can check out online survey websites where you participate in surveys for a bit of money or gift cards. There are also website testing sites where you get paid to use websites and give feedback as a visitor. Some forums also pay their moderators.
Instead of a closing word
One thing is for sure, there is no shortage of ways to make extra money nowadays. We have only scratched the surface of the various opportunities that you can find easily, especially online. Take stock of your skills, take your free time into consideration and start making a plan.