Times are hard financially for many families, and when money is tight, you’re looking for creative ways to get extra cash. I’m not going to discuss common side hustles such as ride-sharing, retail, or various types of online jobs. Instead, I’ll discuss more out-of-the-box ways to get or earn extra cash when money is tight.
Rent Out Spare Rooms in Your Home
Your home can provide you with extra cash when money is tight. Rent out one or two rooms in your home to friends or tenants where you would charge per month or week. This income will help you pay bills and possibly assist with paying down your mortgage. Before you rent out the room, deep clean and decorate it to look inviting to the tenant. Get a rental agreement in writing and lay out specific details of the contract. Think about what you look for in a tenant, and conduct background checks before signing the contract. Research the average cost of rent in your area and charge a fair price accordingly. Be detailed and honest in your listing and include your phone number for potential tenants to schedule appointments and tour the room.
Offer Handyman Services
If you’re skilled in repairing small appliances, offer handyman services. Create flyers and pass them out to neighbors. Discuss your services and do a few for free to give them an idea of what you can do. If they like your services, you can charge them what the average price would be for these services in your area. Have your clients refer your services to people they know.
Sell the Kids’ Old Toys and Clothes Online
Chances are that your kids got bored with the toys they received for Christmas, and they can’t fit some of their clothes from last year. Make extra money by selling the kids’ old toys and clothes online. Inspect the items to ensure they’re in good or excellent condition before listing them for sale. Some good sites to sell these items are eBay, local consignment shops, online thrift stores such as Poshmark and ThredUp, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace. To charge fairly for the items, research the prices of previously sold items on the website to find out how much you should charge. Write concise and descriptive headlines and product descriptions. Include clear photos in your listings.
Sell Plate Lunches or Snacks from Home
When I was little, neighbors used to sell plate lunches and snacks from their homes. The prices were reasonable and the meals were delicious. If you currently have a Sam’s Club or Costco membership, you can buy staples and containers in bulk to prepare and sell the lunches. Many families are tired after a long day of work and don’t always feel like cooking during the week. Another idea is to sell homemade freezer meals for them to heat up on busy nights.
Be a Substitute Teacher
This is a neat job to earn extra cash during the school year. To get this job, you may need at least a bachelor’s degree. After you apply and interview for a position, you’ll have to get a background check and fill out some paperwork. From there, you can work at different schools. In my district, I’m paid $120 per day, and if I get certified, my salary increases. I enjoy working with the kids and the other teachers and administrators are generally helpful.
Digital Decluttering Service
Another way to make extra cash is to help people declutter their digital lives. Start by identifying your strengths and use these as the springboard for the services you’ll offer clients. These services include email inbox decluttering, file and folder organization, photo and video organization, and social media account makeovers for business owners. Start by helping friends and relatives declutter their digital lives, and have them refer you to people they know. Connect with local home organizers because they may know clients who need your services. Send cold emails to local tech support companies because they can contract with you to work with their clients.
Specialty Tutoring
This kind of tutoring goes beyond English, science, and math. If you specialize in a specific skill, tutor others in it for extra money. Partner with local schools to offer financial literacy classes to their students. You can also offer this at local community centers and workforce centers. Another idea is to offer college application and college entrance exam tutoring to high school students applying to college.
Mobile Car Wash
Take your car cleaning supplies and make clients’ cars look fabulous. Some of the equipment you’ll need is a car to get to clients’ homes, an affordable pressure washer such as Ryobi, a vacuum cleaner, buckets, and rags if you can’t buy a pressure washer, car wash soap, and brushes. Talk to neighbors to get your first few clients and have them refer you to others. Post before and after photos of your clients’ cars on social media, and create a business website.
Yard Maintenance
If money is tight, consider doing yard maintenance for clients. Create flyers and leave them at home improvement stores, plant nurseries, laundromats, clinics, libraries, and community centers. Some services you can offer are lawn mowing, weed trimming, yard cleanup after major storms, and garden maintenance.
Run Errands for Seniors
If you have a sizeable elderly population in your neighborhood, run errands for them. This especially benefits seniors who are unable to leave their homes due to disability or recent medical challenges. Buy groceries for them, purchase items from their favorite retailers, or bring their important documents to the post office to be mailed out. Another added service is to help them fill out online forms and apply for government benefits such as Medicare or Social Security benefits.
Prep and Stage Homes for Sellers
People with a talent for decorating and organizing should consider prepping and staging homes for sellers. Maybe you’re interested in decluttering and reorganizing sellers’ homes or consulting them on the best ways to stage their homes. Start by taking affordable online courses or free Youtube videos about the best home staging practices. Practice with friends and relatives who are selling their homes. Take before-and-after pictures of the projects and create an online portfolio. Contact local realtors and inquire about assisting them with staging sellers’ homes.
These creative ideas can help you get extra cash when money is tight. Once you earn extra money, use it toward long-term savings, bills, and investing if you haven’t started already. Doing this will provide the financial stability needed to thrive in this tough economy.