These days it seems like we could all use a little help when it comes to making a little extra money. The last couple of years have been pretty tough on all of us, and many of us have either found ourselves on furlough for extended periods of time or forced to find a new job. What’s more, we have also been looking after family members or been on sick leave ourselves, and we are currently facing increases in both our bills and our taxes. With all that in mind, it makes sense that so many people are looking for ways that they can earn money from home or earn money online.
We have put together a guide to how you can bring a bit of extra cash home at the end of the month, and while they are not all options that you can do from the comfort of your own sofa, they are all ways that you can earn money. Let’s get started.
Start Freelancing
Let’s start with one of the more dependable options for adding a bit of money to your bank account every month. Right now, there are huge numbers of people who are going self-employed or forming their own limited company, and they are gambling on themselves and their skills as their primary form of income. The good news is that you do not need to quit your job in order to explore this market.
There are a lot of companies out there that need extra work picking up, and you may have the skills that they are looking for. Whether it is copywriting, graphic design, accounting, or social media, you can leverage your skillset. Look at job boards to see what freelance work is going. Talk to friends and family members who have freelance experience to find out what the best way to get started is. There are several financial responsibilities that you will need to be aware of, such as declaring any COVID-19 grants. Talk to an accountant about what your financial responsibilities will be with regard to tax on this income.
Take On A Side Hustle
If you are looking for work that is less tied to what companies are looking for, then a side hustle may be just what you need. If you have your own car, then why not think about singing up to drive for a ride service? This will allow you to set your own hours and you can do it when you need to at those difficult times of the month. You could also look into taking on work as a delivery driver, which are always in high demand. This is also an option if you own a bike or motorcycle, taking packages or food around town. Another option is becoming an online tutor. There are a lot of online tutoring companies out there that are always looking for extra talent.
Another popular way to make money online through a side hustle is by reviewing websites for cash as a user experience tester. There are several sites which will pay good money for people who are willing to put the time in going through webpages and testing their usability. You could also look at survey sites for a bit of extra cash but remember that they are often looking for feedback from specific people so read the requirements carefully.
Look For Sign-Up Bonuses And Referral Schemes
If you are looking for ways to make money online, then one of the smartest ways to do so is by looking carefully at the services that you use. Many companies and service providers offer incentives for new customers, and they also offer bonuses for referring people to them. So, if you need a new phone plan, for example, look for a provider that gives you plenty in return for your custom. With the Lebara refer a friend plan, you will not only be helping your friend to get 50% off their first three months of their phone plan, but you could be earning up to £50 every time you find them a new customer. Lebara offers their users SIM-only plans that are on a rolling 30-day basis, and they do not need a credit check so anyone can sign up.
Sell Your Used And Unwanted Goods
At the start of the year, we are all looking at a lot of things that we did not ask for or that we no longer want. As Marie Kondo told us, if it no longer sparks joy then we should really get it out of our lives. While you could always think about giving it away, many of these items could fetch a good price online and could go some way towards helping you towards reaching your savings goal. It is also worth remembering that even if those books or those DVDs don’t fetch as much as you think they will, selling a good chunk in bulk on one of the apps available will certainly give your bank statement a boost.
Look At Your Spare Room
Now, this point may not apply to everyone, but if you have a spare room then you should seriously think about your options. First of all, if you own your property, you could think about renting out that room to a new flat or housemate. There may be several legal steps that you need to check before you do so, and you should be aware that this may have some tax implications that you may not have been aware of initially. However, renting out part of your property will also guarantee you a steady flow of income that could be invaluable if you are not certain about your current revenue stream.
If you are not in the market for a permanent new addition to your household, then why not think about listing it on a spare room site? This will give you the freedom to choose when you make your room available and how long for. Of course, the thing to remember with both of these options is that you will need to make sure to screen the people that you are allowing into your home carefully.
