It’s no question that more money would solve a host of problems for most people. It would certainly lessen the stress of living paycheck to paycheck, unburden you from your debt, and allow you to be financially secure moving forward.

While money doesn’t grow on trees, there are some creative ways to make extra income:

1. Rent

You may already know that you can rent out your extra room on Airbnb, but did you know that you can also rent out your car? Services like Turo.com let you choose your own rates and Turo covers you for $1 in liability insurance.

You can even rent out your stuff on Fat Llama. If you have valuable things that you don’t want to part with but don’t always use, this is a great option to make some extra cash. For example, camera equipment, speakers, projects, bikes and skateboards, and yard equipment are often in-demand items.

2. Sell

Alternatively, if you have valuable items you don’t use at all, consider selling them. Things like jewelry, brand name clothing, and furniture have ongoing value that can add up. You can sell at pawn shops, garage sales, or online via Shopify, Decluttr, Poshmark, Letgo, and Facebook Marketplace. Books, DVDs, records, and CDs can be resold for fair prices at some used bookstores and on Amazon.

You can also make a surprising amount of side cash taking in furniture left out on the curb and refurbishing it before selling. As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Additionally, you can sell any gift cards you might have been given but don’t want to use on sites like Raise and Gift card Granny. Dig around your drawers and closets and see what you have laying around that might have value to someone else.

3. Create

There are some lucrative hobbies out there that could make you money while giving you fulfillment at the same time. Consider creating designs and putting them up on art websites. The designs that you’ve created on a computer, painted, or hand-drawn can be turned into designs for T-shirts, purses, phone cases, and more. If anyone makes a purchase, you receive a portion of those profits.

If you enjoy making jewelry, candles, or anything else that is crafty, you might try your hand at selling on eBay, Esty, or Amazon. If you’re a photographer of sorts, you can even sell Stock images to online vendors.

4. Save

Think about things that you’re used to paying for, whether items or services, and try to be more creative about what you can take on by yourself. Try making your own coffee instead of buying it from a cafe, painting your own nails instead of getting a manicure, and rather than buying something you need brand new, consider getting it secondhand or even fixing up something you already have. The more you can do on your own, the less you’ll have to buy and pay others.

You’ll also be spending time learning those new skills and feel productive with your time. Cooking, sewing, and knitting, and even auto maintenance could be passions that you never even knew you had—and not only can they save you money on services and items you no longer need to buy, but they can make you money.

Consumer First Legal Network is a national law firm with attorneys who help individuals and families like you who are struggling with unsecured debts. Would you like our financial counselors to take a look at your personal financial situation? Contact us and we’ll help you begin to turn it all around.

Consumer First Legal Network, LLC
Harold E. Stafford, Esq.
Managing Member
Licensed in Wisconsin
6918 Avalon Lane, Madison, WI 53719
Phone: 866-552-9492, Ext. 2
E-mail: hstafford@c1ln.com