| Quick Answer The best ways to make extra money right now are freelancing with skills you already have, selling unused items online, doing gig work like delivery or rideshare driving, tutoring, renting out a spare room or driveway, and starting a small online shop. Most people earn an extra $200 to $1,275 a month, depending on the hours they put in. |
Most of us may have had the thought in our heads at some point: having a bit more money for the bills, a holiday or just to have a little more breathing room at the end of the month. The good news is that you don’t need a second job to do this (or a degree in business studies). According to a 2016 survey, 53% of people with a side hustle say they’d struggle to afford day-to-day expenses without it, highlighting that it’s not just a luxury for many people, it’s actually a necessity for their household income.
Below is a list of realistic ways to start earning some spare money, without the snake oil of get-rich-quick schemes, plus some tips to help avoid the classic amateur mistakes.
1. Freelance With Skills You Already Have
You do not have to learn a new skill to start earning. Writing, design, bookkeeping, social media management, and web development are services people pay for every day. According to a certified financial planner at NerdWallet, the best way to get started is to use your existing skill set and not try to acquire new competencies.
Upwork and Fiverr make you find your first customer quickly and without hard effort at your first job as a freelancer.
Plus, you do not have to spend money on a fancy office and business cards. The article recommends starting small and offering your services for free to a friend, neighbor, or past colleague. You will get an excellent review that will help you attract more clients and grow your business further.
2. Sell the Things You’re Not Using
Most homes have hundreds of dollars’ worth of stuff sitting in cupboards doing nothing. Clothes, electronics, furniture, even old gold jewellery can turn into quick cash. Sites like Poshmark and ThredUp handle clothing sales, while local consignment shops pay you faster if you don’t want to wait for an online buyer.
Tip: Take clear photos in good light and check what similar items are selling for before you set your price. Overpricing is the number one reason listings sit unsold.
3. Try Gig Work Like Delivery or Rideshare Driving
Driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart is one of the most accessible ways to earn extra money because signing up is quick and you can work whenever suits you. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s flexible, and you get paid without waiting weeks for an invoice to clear.
Tip: Track your mileage from day one. It’s one of the biggest tax deductions available to gig drivers, and it’s easy to forget once you’re a few months in.
4. Tutor or Teach What You Know
If you’re good at maths, a foreign language, music, or exam prep, tutoring can pay well for relatively few hours. Parents are often willing to pay a premium for someone patient and reliable, and you can tutor in person or online through platforms built for exactly this.
Tip: Set a clear hourly rate from the start. Undercharging is common with new tutors, and it’s hard to raise prices once a client is used to the lower one.
5. Rent Out What You’re Already Paying For
A spare room, a parking space, even a driveway near a stadium or city centre can earn steady money with almost no extra work once it’s set up. Sites exist for renting out driveways, storage space, and rooms, and the running cost is usually close to zero.
Tip: Check your local rules and, if you rent your home, your tenancy agreement before listing a room or space — some areas restrict short-term rentals.
6. Start a Small Online Shop or Digital Product
Selling things online has become much easier with Etsy and various website makers. While it does take more time to create than a gig economy job, a digital good you create only needs to be made once and can sell for a long period of time with little maintenance.
A tip when starting is to pick one small product to focus on instead of your whole idea shop. It will be easier to market and perfect one product than it will be to market and perfect ten.
Key Takeaways
- Starting from skills or items you already own is likely to be more effective and quicker than having to learn or acquire new items and skills
- Most people prioritize flexibility over the size of the paycheck
- It is essential that you track the money you earn and save some of it for taxes from the earliest payments
- You should try out one method for a few weeks before judging its effectiveness
- Passive income, such as cash from renting a room in your house, requires more effort upfront but pays off in the long run
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to make extra money fast?
Selling unused items around your home or signing up for delivery or rideshare driving are usually the fastest ways to see cash, often within days rather than weeks.
How much do people typically earn from a side hustle?
A 2026 survey by The Penny Hoarder found that people with side hustles earn about $1,275 a month on average, though this varies widely depending on the type of work and hours put in.
Do I have to pay tax on extra income?
Yes. In the US, self-employed income of $400 or more generally means you owe self-employment tax, whether or not you receive a 1099 form. It’s worth setting aside roughly a quarter of what you earn for tax.
Can I make extra money without any special skills?
Yes. Selling items, gig driving, and simple tasks through apps like TaskRabbit don’t require specialist skills, just time and reliability.
What’s the best side hustle for someone with a full-time job?
Flexible options like freelancing, tutoring, or selling items online tend to work best, since you can do them around your existing schedule rather than fixed shifts.
