Common Creative Ways to Pick Up Extra Money

Have you ever thought about how much easier it would be to save money or how much faster you could pay off your debt with just a couple hundred extra dollars a month? Or even an extra thousand a month? There are ways that you can earn extra money that won’t take too much of your free time and that offer flexible work hours. Below is a list of ideas to get you thinking of how you can reach your financial goals with just a few hours of extra work per week.

Open An Online Store

Do you knit, sew, do photography, or make any arts or crafts? You might be able to earn some extra cash by selling the fruits of your labor on Etsy or eBay. What is nice about this option is that you can manage your store at any hour of the day or night, and when you make a sale, you can skip the post office and print and ship from home.

Have a Garage Sale

This could be a standard garage sale, or online through sites like eBay. Before you drop off that pair of slacks with the tags still on at your local thrift store, take a look to see what it is selling for on eBay or wait till you have a few tables full of items to sell and have a traditional garage sale.

Flip Things

We often think of houses when we think of flipping, but if you don’t have real estate knowledge you can flip other items like text books, antiques, or coins. You can shop at garage sales, estate sales, and thrift stores, and resell unique or valuable items online for higher prices. You might even consider selling your old silver, gold, and gemstone jewelry to a pawnshop.

Do Freelance Work

Do you have a professional skill that someone would be willing to pay for? What industry do you work in, or have you worked in the past that you could consult in? If you are a writer, you can write or edit blog content. If you are an accountant, you can offer your services on the side. If you are a social media guru, you can manage a business’s social media accounts. You can post an ad on Craigslist to offer your services or find a freelance site.

Become A Mystery Shopper

Believe it or not, you can actually get paid to shop or dine in restaurants and retailers and then report back on the service you received. Go to the Mystery Shoppers Provider Association for a list of reputable mystery shoppers.

Pick Up Odd Jobs

Does a local business need someone to hand out fliers? Do you have time to walk dogs, pet sit, or house sit? Do you like to babysit? Could you tutor a neighbor’s child with their math homework? Check sites like Craigslist or the job postings in your local paper to find opportunities to help out.

Translate

If you are bilingual, your skills can be used in a variety of ways. You could translate written documents, help someone draft a business letter in your second or native language, or you can do face-to-face or Skype translating, as well as transcription.

There are lots of ways that you can earn extra money without carving out a large time commitment that a second job would require. To increase your monthly income, think outside of the box to get one step closer to your financial goals.