50% of Americans have under $500 in the bank, and many of these people have no emergency savings at all. If you’re one of them, then thinking about your finances can be stressful.
Even if you’ve got decent savings, there may be times when you need a little extra to push things along.
Working a full-time job already eats up a lot of your time and energy. So taking on another traditional job is out of the question.
So how else can you earn extra cash? Read on for seven effective ways.
1. Sell Your Jewelry
There’s bound to be pieces of jewelry that you barely wear, and they’re collecting dust. Considering that the current price of a bar of gold is stable, you’ll fetch fantastic prices. Depending on which pieces you have, there are certain selling avenues that are better than others. You can either create online listings yourself or try resellers.
Regardless, you should get multiple quotes or offers before parting with your jewelry. That way, you can get a feel for how much it’s worth and avoid being ripped off.
2. Sell Other Items
On that note, why not go through your house and see what else you can sell? Chances are, you’ve got tons of unused items that are just taking up space.
By clearing these things out, not only will you earn some money, but you’ll also free up space. If you’ve got a small house, then this can be invaluable.
Again, there are several channels to sell your belongings. Making your own listings can be time-consuming, but will potentially get you more money. 1ver, selling in bulk to places like thrift shops is easier, although you’ll get a smaller return.
3. Do Odd Jobs
The beauty of odd jobs is they don’t usually require high levels of skill. So if you’re eager to work hard, then you’ll flourish with odd jobs.
Start by asking your neighbors, family, friends, and coworkers if they need small tasks done around their houses and properties.
For example, they might need their grass cut every so often, or their sidewalk shoveled when it snows. Or they may need dog walkers, pet sitters, or babysitters.
You can be a jack of all trades here and satisfy your clients’ needs. When they see what an excellent job you do, they’ll retain your services and refer you to others.
You can expand your client base by signing up for sites like TaskRabbit. You’ll access more opportunities and see the money come in even faster.
4. Sell Your Creative Skills and Knowledge
Do you have some talents or hobbies? Then turn those things into cold hard cash.
For instance, if you like to write, draw, knit, crochet, or sew, you can sell your products to people who appreciate unique and handmade things. Etsy is an outstanding platform to sell creative products on.
Otherwise, have you had an extensive education? Or have you taken classes in a niche subject? Then you can create written or video tutorials, or offer live tutoring services.
The former might be a better idea since you only have to create the content, then you can put it online and earn a passive income from people who view it. However, if you enjoy interactions, live tutoring can be more fun.
5. Be a Ride-Share Driver
You can earn extra cash by being a ride-share driver if you have a vehicle that’s in good condition. There are several platforms available, such as Uber and Lyft, and it wouldn’t hurt to sign up for as many as possible. That way, there’s a higher chance of snagging clients.
On that note, you can also sign up for grocery shopping and food delivery apps. In fact, you can do both on Uber, so that’s a great one to drive for.
The difference between being a freelancer and a taxi driver is there’s more flexibility. Instead of picking up shifts that are around eight hours long, you can drive whenever you have free time, even if that’s one hour. This makes it easier to fit around your busy schedule.
6. Take Online Surveys
Don’t feel like leaving your house to earn more money? Then luckily for you, there are plenty of online surveys to take.
Admittedly, it can be difficult to find ones you qualify for; you might be rejected several times before you’re successful. Also, the surveys don’t pay much, so you’ll have to do a substantial amount to accumulate enough money for, say, a takeout meal.
However, you won’t have to put much effort in; you can watch TV while filling out these surveys. Plus, you can stay in your pajamas and not take a shower while “working,” which makes it super convenient.
If you’re looking for cash fast, then it might be better to resort to other methods on this list. You can use online surveys as a way to slowly build up an emergency fund.
7. Rent Out a Spare Room
If you’re lucky enough to own property, then consider renting out a spare room. It’s true that you’ll lose some privacy and space, but you can earn a nice chunk of change.
In many areas, you can charge anywhere between $500 to $1,000 for that empty room! And you never know if you’ll make new friends.
If you really can’t stand losing your privacy and space, then a short-term stint on Airbnb might work. You can get an even higher price by renting out your entire property. And you can split part of the profits with the loved one you stay with.
Get Yourself Some Extra Cash
No matter what your bank balance is, everyone could use a higher amount. And you won’t have to take on another traditional job to save more.
We’ve listed several creative ways to get extra cash. It’s a great start to padding your bank account and working towards those finer things in life. However, there are many other methods, so don’t be afraid to experiment and explore!
If you need more financial tips, take a look at our other blog posts now.
