When the economy struggles, you might struggle financially. Whether you lose hours at work or prices increase too much for you to afford, it can get difficult. Fortunately, today there are many ways to make money on the side, some even instantly.
These tricks can help you make extra money whether you need money fast for a financial emergency, need to make ends meet, or just want extra money to pay for non-essentials.
9 Ways to Make Extra Money
Making extra money today is easier than most people think. You don’t need a lot of skills or a certain college degree. In most cases, you need a car, a computer, or items to rent out, and you can make money. You might even make extra money just by looking around your house and finding things you no longer use or need.
Here are eight ways to make extra money today.
Rent out Extra Space
If there’s extra room in your home, such as a finished basement or unused bedroom, consider renting it to someone. You can rent periodically using Airbnb, making the room available when you aren’t around or don’t mind having someone else in the home or making it available for long-term rent, creating an annual lease for renters.
Rent out Items
If you have items you no longer need, you might be able to make money renting them to others. Baby gear, camera equipment, tools, and even cars are the most popular items, but you can rent almost anything.
Some popular sites to reach people who want to rent items include BabyQuip, Rent my Equipment, and Turo.
Sell Used Books
Selling used books is another great way to make money and help the environment at the same time. Textbooks are expensive, but you can get some of your money back by selling them online on sites like BookScouter.
You can look up the book’s value and see how much you’ll get instantly. You may receive multiple offers from various buyers, choose the best offer and sell your books for money.
When you need books, you can turn around and buy used books on BookScouter.com, saving yourself money and again helping the environment.
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Start a Freelance Gig
If you have extra time to work a freelance gig, consider starting a gig on Fiverr. You can start thousands of gigs, but choose yours based on your expertise and skills. Some common gigs include:
- Freelance writing
- Graphic design
- Voiceovers
- Bookkeeping
You can sell just about any gig on Fiverr if you create a valuable profile demonstrating your skills and letting buyers know what you can do.
Walk Dogs
If you love animals, consider making extra money walking dogs. You can advertise in your neighborhood or sign up for a site like Rover. On Rover, you describe your services, explain why you’re a good fit for walking owners’ dogs, and set your rates.
Dog owners interested in your services will reach out to you via the app, and you can decide if the job is something you want to take.
Drive for Uber or Lyft
If you have a decent car with car insurance and pass a background check, you can make money driving people to their destinations. Uber and Lyft pay a flat fee for each drive, plus you keep 100% of any tips customers pay.
You set your app to be available when you can; you don’t have to work a set schedule or a certain number of hours. Sometimes Uber and Lyft offer bonus pay when they need more drivers because of high demand.
Shop for Instacart or Shipt
If you don’t mind shopping for others, you can download the Instacart or Shipt apps and apply as a shopper. Like Uber or Lyft, you must pass a background check and have a form of transportation.
With Instacart and Shipt, you shop a customer’s grocery list, check out and deliver it to them. Some Shipt shoppers work in-store, picking the orders for curbside pickup, but those shifts require you to sign up ahead of time and work a certain length, usually four hours.
Like Uber and Lyft, you keep 100% of the customer tips and earn a flat fee for each order you accept.
Deliver Restaurant Food
If you love driving but aren’t ready to drive people, you can deliver restaurant food to customers. DoorDash and Uber Eats are the most popular food delivery apps.
You download the apps and follow the instructions to sign up as a driver. Then, if you pass the background check and meet the requirements for a mode of transportation and proper insurance, you can accept orders.
When customers place an order with a restaurant, the order comes through the DoorDash or Uber Eats app for drivers to accept. Once accepted, you drive to the restaurant, pick up the paid-for order, and deliver it to the customer.
DoorDash and UberEats offer a flat fee for each delivery, but they often have promotions or challenges to help drivers earn more during busy times. You may also earn customer tips.
Sell Items you Don’t Need
If there are items you no longer need at home, consider selling them on sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. If you have collectibles or items you think will make good money, you could also start a listing on eBay and make more money by starting an auction.
eBay charges fees to sell items, so make sure you know the cost before listing your item, so you make as much money as anticipated.
Final Thoughts
Making money in a recession may require a little creativity. However, if you think outside the box, you can find ways to make extra money. For example, you might make money online from home or start a side gig that requires you to leave the house, but you can work on your own time.
