5 Out-of-the-box ways to do so
Gone are the days when it was wise to rely on one stream of income. Even if you can get by on your salary from one full-time job, it's good to have a side gig or two. Depending on your financial situation, you can put the extra cash towards paying off debt, saving an emergency fund, or saving a down payment for your first home. But how do you start to earn money outside of a full-time job? Here are some out-of-the-box ideas to consider.
- Deliver Food
Delivering takeout food used to be a part-time job that came with scheduled hours. But today, thanks to popular delivery apps, you can work on your own schedule.
Each delivery app has its own requirements, but usually, as long as you have a reliable car, you can sign up and start earning. You'll generally be paid a set rate per delivery, plus any tips the customer leaves. You can deliver one night a week or every night, depending on your schedule and how much you want to earn. - Sell Your Photos
Are you a decent photographer? Even if you're rather average at taking pictures, you could take a few online photography classes and quickly improve your skills. Then, you can start selling your photography. There are several marketplace websites where you can post your photo content for sale, or you can simply advertise on Instagram.
As you start selling photos, you may have some customers approach you and ask you to take custom photos for them. At this point, if you wish, you can begin charging for personalized photo shoots. - Rent Out Your Extra Space
Do you have an extra bedroom in your home? You could earn money by listing it on a short-term rental site. You'll want to screen your prospective guests well, but most short-term listing sites offer good protection for property owners. The only real work involved will be creating your listing, meeting with guests as they "check-in," and cleaning the space between guests. You can rent the space out once a week or every day, depending on your availability. - Create an Online Course
If you have a certain skill you think others may be interested in learning, you could create and sell an online course to earn some extra cash. For example, if you know calligraphy, you could create a video series showing beginners how to write in script, and then you could sell that video series to interested buyers. As interest grows, you can make more detailed follow-up videos.
A similar way to earn money is to make and sell e-books. This works better if you have certain knowledge to share on a topic rather than an action-based skill. For example, if you have a degree in nutrition, you could write e-books on healthy eating. - Run Errands for People
Reach out to family, friends, and even coworkers, and let them know you're willing to run errands for some extra cash. So many people don't have time to run to the post office, pick up their dry cleaning, or stop by the grocery store. If you can get a few errands done on the same trip, you can get paid twice for the same car ride or bike ride.
There are plenty of ways to earn money on the side. These are just a few suggestions! Diversifying your income streams is always smart as it gives you something to fall back on if you lose your full-time job or need some extra spending cash. Get out there, and start earning money!