Aside from working full time jobs, there are different and accessible ways for us to earn money in our spare time. And who doesn’t want extra money? There are ways you can earn money sitting on the sofa with your laptop, or you can get out for an hour or two and see the extra pennies roll into your bank account with ease.
However, if money is tight and you are struggling with your finances, it is always a good decision to stick to a budget and find ways that you can save money – lower your bills, eat out less, only buy essential items etc. By using some imagination, though, and with a bit of effort you can find there are lots of ways you can make some money apart from getting a full time job.
Get your savings in check
If you’ve had the same savings account for a while it could be useful to look around for better rates, and a new bank. Good rates on savings do tend to come and go and fluctuate, but if you’ve had a savings account for a long time and have not seen much of an increase on potential interest earned, the chances are that you could benefit from a change of bank provider.
If your aim is to start putting savings away, then try to put money aside each month. It doesn’t have to be a lot, you can do it bit by bit. If you want to use an ISA account, you can save up to thousands of money every as cash in an ISA account isn’t generally applicable to be taxed.
Could cashback credit cards help you?
If you own credit cards and pay off your bill completely each month, then a credit card which allows cashback could be the best choice for you. These types of credit cards are popular as they offer you money back when buying products in stores or on essentials such as petrol. Just be careful not to overspend on a card and make sure you pay it off every month.
Look at cashback websites
You can potentially earn even more money by doing your shopping online. Yes, you can shop and earn money – great, right?! Cashback websites will pay you every time you buy a product or a service from certain retailers.
Be a music reviewer
If you do your research, there are websites dedicated to music, which will pay for your reviews. However, be aware as a lot of sites just offer free contributor spots. Reviewing music can be really fun and worthwhile, as you’ll expand your music knowledge, get access to free music and even have your name in print! However, you will need to dedicate time to review the music properly.
Get paid for surveys
On the internet, there are plenty of sites which offer opportunities to make money. By simply joining survey websites you will get rewarded for your opinions, either through cash or gift vouchers. This can come in very handy.
Tax credits
Check that you are receiving all the benefits and tax credits you are entitled to. A lot of people are missing out on benefits and tax credits which could really help out, and if they were to simply check if they were entitled to anything, they could be better off. In the UK you can find information on the .Gov website: https://www.gov.uk/tax-credits-calculator
Earn from web research
Some websites look for, and require, people to work for them by researching the internet. An example would be a customer asking a question through a website’s form, and then you trawl the web and seek the correct answer. These questions can be about anything.
With this sort of job, you get to choose your own hours and the questions you answer, and the payment ranges from pennies to pounds.
Get a lodger
While house prices are rising, it is possible that there are ways in which your home can make money for you.
There are schemes in place now which means you don’t need to pay tax on certain amounts you earn from a lodger, in effect leaving you with a nice profit. The scheme in the UK is called the ‘Rent a Room’ scheme. The Rent a Room scheme is an optional scheme that’s open to owner occupiers or tenants who let out furnished accommodation to a lodger in their main home. It allows you to earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free, or £3,750 if you’re letting jointly.
As well as renting a room out to a lodger, you could look up information on real estate and see how you can earn more money by doing more than just renting a room out.
Be a film extra
If you have ever wanted to see yourself onscreen, then there are lots of good opportunities. Film and TV companies are requiring, and need, extras. Generally, people make around £100 a day and aside from the cash, you may also get the chance to meet some famous actors or celebrities! However, it is a good idea to join a casting agency first for you to get a good shot so do some research on ones with a good reputation.
Rent out a parking space
If you live in a city, or close to a city centre, or a train station or sports stadium and don’t use your parking space for whatever reason, you could easily be making a good profit on the space. Renting an empty parking place to a commuter or sports fan could see you rake in the pounds.
In especially busy areas, it is possible to make money every day of the week – and when sports games are taking place you could double or even triple the usual charge.
Rent your home
There are now websites where you can advertise a room or your home for tourists planning to stay for a short time. It can be especially useful if you have an empty house – for example when you are on holiday – and you can make easy money.
Recycle your old mobile
Many of us have an old mobile phone taking up space somewhere in the house, but it is possible to easily turn your mobile into a bit cash, even if it is damaged or faulty. Research how much your phone will sell for, and then upload it to a website or take it to a second hand phone shop.
Model your child
While every parent believes their child or children is a star in the making, there are agencies out there which could think so too. The first step is to contact an agency and ask what you need to do to get your child involved, and what requirements their company has. After this, you will be potentially asked to send in a photo of your child.
Auctions
All of us hoard items that we think could possibly come in handy one day but if you really look at the things you are hoarding, the chances are you have forgotten about them or have no use for them. You can sell them online or, for really valuable items, take them to an auction house where good money can swap hands.
Sell your skills
All of us have particular skills we have developed and unique talents – and a good way of using these to our advantage is to train, educate and tutor other people. For example, if you learnt the guitar to a high level but did not want to take it any further professionally, then you can make good money by tutoring people in your area. If you were to charge £20 an hour, if you did three lessons a week that would be £60. Monthly, that adds up to £240.
Also, if you have a talent for things like decorating, sewing, ceramics and crafts, you could also sell your creations at fetes, local craft fairs and you can also upload images of your work online. That way, people can see your talent and may want to buy your products.
Car boot sales
If you’d prefer money instantly, then a car boot sale is a good choice for you. Lots of people visit car boot sales, and you’ll find that items do tend to sell quickly. However, sometimes it is not possible to make a lot of money from car boot sales – but every little bit counts.
Mystery shopper
If you enjoy shopping but do not want to spend unnecessary money in the shops, good option for you could be to work as a mystery shopper. Check job websites to search for companies that employ mystery shoppers; a mystery shopper will simply go to shops and restaurants (without saying who they are) and rate their experience.
After your visit and after your give your review, you will be paid for your time and you will also get the money back that you spend in the shop.
So, if you are looking to earn an extra bit of cash – the easy way – do your research and the chances are that you will find jobs and assignments you can do. Also take the time to look up local car boot sales, and advertisements for people who want tutors. When it comes to selling your talent and skills, always ensure you price yourself at a good rate and do not undersell yourself. If people want to learn skills, they will pay good money.
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