Ways to Make Extra Money

Tax refund season is here and there will be plenty of people with some extra cash in their pockets. However, you may not have to wait until the spring of every year to have that extra cash. It is possible to do a few things to have extra cash in your pockets at all times and it can change the way that you live your life. You can use the extra money to save for retirement, pay off debts, save for vacation and maybe even provide yourself a sense of freedom with your current work position.

Whether you are looking to just spend an hour or two a week, a day or a month trying to make a little extra money, there are probably some options out there for you. Of course, full time employment is ideal and these ideas are simply only to supplement your current income and provide extra money for saving, etc.

Side Business

One option to get a little extra money in your pockets is to start a side business (self-owned). This can also lead to a full-time career and make it possible to feel a little bit more free in your work (because it’s yours and no one else’s work). This doesn’t mean you start your own lawn maintenance business (though it may mean that), it means you can take something you enjoy or something you find easy to do and spin it so that it makes you money. You can do this by doing the following (and many other things):

• Become a babysitter/nanny
• Clean houses
• Clean cars (inside and out)
• Help people move furniture
• Help people paint
• Become an Uber driver
• House sitting
• Pet sitting
• Training pets
• Grooming pets
• Dog walking
• Become a tutor
• Teach people something you’re good at
• Maintain yards and beautifying years
• Start a blog
• Surveys (there are a ton of these online)
• Snow shoveling (not for the cold-blooded)
• Photography (if you have the knack for it)

Find Something Part-Time

In addition to starting your own small business, you can also simply find a part-time or side job. These will only take up to 20 hours a week (maybe less) and can provide a significant amount of additional income. These can be seasonal, on the weekends, over the summer, at night. Whatever time works for you is when you can work your part-time job. If you can’t think of anything you would like to do part-time, here are a few ideas:

• Waitressing (tips can be great)
• Bartend
• Work at a hotel
• Summer jobs
• Winter holiday jobs (seasonal mall positions, delivery, etc)
• Retail
• Become a substitute teacher
• Referee sporting events (pays pretty well)
• Guide tours (if you know your hometown well, this can be easy)
• Lifeguard (better in the summer)
• Deliveries (newspapers, delivery driver, etc)
• Lending a helping hand through an agency to someone disabled

There are many other ways you can make extra money as well. Some of them not as straight forward and many may even be considered a bit unorthodox. However you want to pull in extra money, be sure to get what you want done with the extra cash. Whether it be save, pay off debts or aiming for a brand new car, keep your goals in mind when looking for ways to grab some extra cash.

Photo: Flickr: Steven Depolo