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Published 10 June 2021

27 ways to make money online and offline

Make money with a side gig and learn how long it will take to see the extra income, whether it’s freelancing online, driving passengers or selling your stuff.

You need extra money, but you’re not sure where to start (or what’s legit). Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

NerdWallet rounded up 27 legitimate ways to earn some extra income — at home or out and about — and listed each option based on how fast you can get started and get paid. While most people prefer fast cash, don’t discount the “slow” gigs, as they may pay more in the long run.

Keep in mind that you are responsible for making sure you pay any necessary tax on income from your side hustles. Currently you can earn up to £1,000 tax-free from self-employed activities like those listed below, but anything you earn over this amount may be taxable.

[Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some of these suggestions may not be currently viable.]

Sell your gently used clothes

Selling clothes you no longer wear is a quick way to make some money. Putting your items up on fashion sites like Depop or Vinted will probably be one of the easiest ways to find buyers, particularly if you have more specific or niche tastes. You could also try selling your clothing on more general websites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay. When selling online, be sure to take clear, well-lit photos of your pieces and research similar items to set competitive prices.

If you have older clothes that may struggle to attract buyers, you can try selling them in bulk via a local “cash for clothes” organisation. It won’t be as profitable as selling them individually as you may only get around £0.50 per kg, but it might be an option to consider if you have lots of unwanted clothes that would otherwise be difficult to sell.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast/medium

Requirements

Trade in old phones, electronics, and other unused items for cash

Have an old phone, iPad, or gaming system lying around? Or have shelves of CDs and DVDs you no longer need? Sell them to companies like CeX or musicMagpie. There are lots of sites where you can sell old tech goods, especially mobile phones, so hunt around to see which one offers the best price. You could also check out other online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree to sell your things, as well as Amazon’s trade-in programme, which pays participants in Amazon gift cards.

If you’re in a rush, you can see if there is a nearby ecoATM kiosk which, depending on the model and condition of your mobile phone, may give you cash for your phone on the spot.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast/medium

Requirements

Sell your unwanted items at car boot sales

If you prefer a more old-fashioned approach, you could look at selling any unwanted items at a car boot sale. Car boot sales are full of people looking to get a bargain, so they can be a good opportunity to sell a whole range of assorted items that you no longer want or need.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast

Requirements

Drive for Uber

Join Uber, or a similar driving service, and earn money by driving passengers around. Just don’t forget to factor in petrol and maintenance costs. You need an eligible car in good condition, a private hire licence, and valid insurance, and you must agree to a background check and a review of your driving history. Most companies will allow you to take on as many or as few fares as you like, so you could choose to drive regularly or simply on occasional evenings and weekends to supplement your income.

Total time: fast

Set-up: slow

Payment: fast

Requirements

Make deliveries for Amazon, Deliveroo, Uber Eats

Take advantage of the growing delivery trend and sign up for a service like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Amazon Flex. You get paid per delivery, in most cases, and can even earn tips. A car isn’t always required; – some companies let you use a bike or scooter to make deliveries. However, a background check is almost always carried out.

Total time: fast

Set-up: medium

Payment: fast

Requirements

Become a dog walker or pet sitter

Love dogs? Consider becoming a dog walker. Apps like Rover offer on-demand dog walking, so you can pick up walks when your schedule allows. You may also be able to get paid for drop-in visits to check up on pets, looking after a pet for the day, or even pet sitting for a longer period of time. If you have space (and your landlord’s permission, if you rent), you could offer overnight cat or dog boarding. Read the fine print if you sign up for these services.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast

Requirements

Get a babysitting gig

Everyone from students to recent retirees can make money by watching other people’s children. Word-of-mouth referrals from friends and family are still a great way to get started, but you can also create a profile for free on sites like Care.com to expand your reach. Note any specialised skills, such as CPR certifications or experience with special needs children, to make yourself more marketable.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast

Requirements

Rent out your driveway

If you have a driveway or off-road parking space that you don’t use, why not make some money from it? There are several websites, like JustPark and Your Parking Space, where you can advertise and let out your parking space hourly, daily, or even on a longer-term basis. You can set the times the space is available and set the price. Especially if you live in a prime city-centre location with limited parking, your space could be popular with both commuters and day-trippers.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast

Requirements

Sell unused gift cards

Sell unused gift cards on a site like Cardyard to get cash worth up to a certain amount of the card’s value. You can sell both physical gift cards and e-gift cards in this way, and you will get paid when your gift cards have been received. You could also choose to use the balance to buy another gift card from the site.

Total time: fast

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast

Requirements

Pick up freelance work online

Websites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.co.uk offer opportunities to do a variety of freelance jobs, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and being a virtual assistant. Fluent in a second language? Check sites such as Gengo or One Hour Translation, or drum up business through a site of your own. For those who can type fast, why not consider taking on some transcription work through sites like Take Note? No matter what kind of freelancing you do, keep track of the going rate for the kind of work you provide so you know if you’re charging too much or too little.

Total time: medium

Set-up: fast

Payment: medium

Requirements

Get paid to write

If you are a skilled writer then there are several ways you could earn some money. For example, you could join sites like Textbroker and Clickworker where clients can pay you to write different forms of content such as blog articles, product descriptions, and more. Other websites may also provide opportunities to submit an article on a subject of your choice, although they may not always publish your submission and not every site will pay.

You could also look offline, as lots of magazines will offer readers money for any letters sent in, sharing opinions and views about recent tv shows for example. However, you will only receive money if your submission is selected for publication.

Total time: medium

Set-up: medium

Payment: medium

Requirements

Test websites and apps

Sites such as UserTesting.com will pay you for your thoughts on how well — or not so well — certain websites and apps worked. You’ll have to pass a short test to be accepted, then you’ll be paid for each website test you do, which involves a recording and answering some follow-up written questions. If you participate in a video conversation with a customer after your test you could earn even more.

Total time: medium

Set-up: medium

Payment: fast

Requirements

Pick up tasks on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk

Even in the age of automation, some jobs still require a human touch. Companies often outsource those jobs via services like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. As a “worker,” the tasks you’ll be assigned can be tedious — tagging images, transcribing videos, classifying receipts — and can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Temporary employers or “requesters” set the price for each task and get to approve the finished product before paying you. That can leave room for scams, so do your research, and join a community like the MTurk Crowd forum, or the MTurk and Turker Nation subreddits, which can steer you away from shifty dealers. These communities and fellow “workers” can answer questions and give a realistic idea of how much money you can expect to make.

Total time: medium

Set-up: fast

Payment: slow

Requirements

Let out your spare bedroom

Making your home or spare bedroom available on rental sites like Airbnb and SpareRoom can provide you with a lucrative side income. But first, be prepared to spend some money to clean and keep up the property to make sure your accommodation is suitable for guests and lodgers. You should also scrutinise your rental or mortgage agreement before you get started to make sure you are allowed to let out a room.

Under the Rent a Room Scheme, you can earn up to £7,500 tax-free by letting out furnished accommodation in your home.

Total time: medium

Set-up: fast

Payment: fast to medium

Requirements

Rent out your car

City-dwellers often don’t use their cars for days or weeks at a time. That idle time can translate to money with services like Hiyacar, Getaround, and Turo, which help you rent out your car by the hour or day. You take home the majority of those earnings, while the car hire platform takes a cut for protecting your car while it’s being rented.

Total time: medium

Set-up: medium

Payment: medium to slow

Requirements

Take surveys for money

You can generate a small side income by taking online surveys, but don’t expect to be rolling in the money. Survey sites don’t typically offer a big payoff, and many sites are more useful for earning gift cards than cash. Some of the more popular online survey providers include Swagbucks, i-Say, and Crowdology, but there are many more paid survey sites available.

Qmee is another site that offers surveys, but it also has a feature that enables you to earn cash rewards simply by searching via their browser app and clicking on the results that are relevant to you.

Total time: medium

Set-up: fast

Payment: medium

Requirements

Sign up for TaskRabbit

If you actually enjoy putting together Ikea furniture or standing in long lines, you may be cut out for doing tasks for others. Websites like TaskRabbit can connect you with people who need help with a variety of things, such as moving, cleaning, delivery, car washing, decorating, organising, shopping, window cleaning, handyman services, and more. TaskRabbit is available in several cities across the UK.

Total time: medium

Set-up: medium

Payment: fast

Requirements

Sell your photography

Turn your photographs into cash via sites like Fine Art America, which lets you upload your images to sell as prints, T-shirts, phone cases and more. Other marketplaces for photographers include Alamy, Foap, SmugMug, 500px and PhotoShelter. Visual artists and photographers can also find success on design and gift shops like Redbubble and Artokingo. Stock image libraries like Alamy, Picfair and Shutterstock also purchase photos. Some sites require a subscription but may provide features ranging from cloud storage to password-protected galleries and a customised website.

Total time: medium

Set-up: fast

Payment: medium to slow

Requirements

Become a private tutor

Turn your maths, science, foreign-language or test-prep expertise into a lucrative side gig by becoming a private tutor. You can tutor people online or in-person. What you can charge depends on your experience, expertise and what’s in demand. To get started, create a profile on sites like Tutorful or Care.com. You could also advertise your services at local schools and community centres.

Total time: medium

Set-up: medium

Payment: fast to medium

Requirements

Make money from your blog as an affiliate

If you’re a blogger who gets decent traffic, you could make money by joining an affiliate network. Affiliates (that’s you) get paid when someone clicks through from their website to the partner site and buys something there. Some bloggers make a lot of money this way. Display ads, affiliate links, and sponsored content are just some of the ways you can earn money from your blog.

Total time: slow

Set-up: slow

Payment: slow

Requirements

Sell your wares on Etsy

Have a penchant for woodworking, jewellery-making, embroidery or pottery? Sell your hand-made goods on Etsy, the go-to site for artisans selling home goods, art and knickknacks. Etsy boasts almost 48 million active buyers and grossed $5 billion in merchandise sales in 2019, according to the website.

Total time: slow

Set-up: medium

Payment: medium

Requirements

Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel

Turn your cat videos into cash videos. If your YouTube videos or blog posts draw a big audience, you may be able to make money from advertising. With Google AdSense, you create ad spaces on your content and businesses can pay to advertise there. The service is free, but there are requirements you must meet. If you have a successful YouTube channel you could apply for the YouTube Partner Programme to monetise your videos.

Total time: slow

Set-up: fast

Payment: slow

Requirements

Become an Instagram influencer

Companies are using Instagram influencers — people with large, dedicated followings on the platform — to rep their products. You can get in on the action by applying for opportunities via a marketing platform like Open Influence, or by contacting the brands you want to work with.

Total time: slow

Set-up: slow

Payment: slow

Requirements

Monetise your Twitch channel

Gaming can be a lucrative side gig once you build a steady following on Twitch, the go-to site for gamers, artists, musicians and other creatives. Broadcasters can receive donations from viewers and even get a share of subscription and ad revenue if they reach Affiliate or Partner status.

Total time: slow

Set-up: slow

Payment: slow

Requirements

» MORE: How to make money on Twitch

Sign up to be a mystery shopper

Businesses often want to know how they’re performing from a customer’s perspective. Sign up to be their eyes and ears as you visit certain shops and report back on your experience. You can apply to be a mystery shopper online via sites like Market Force, iShopFor Ipsos, Retail Maxim, and GBW. Just beware of scams and do thorough research before signing on.

Mystery shopping doesn’t need to be time-consuming. You can also earn cash online by completing simple tasks for market research sites like Field Agent, EasyShift, BeMyEye, and Roamler. They offer rewards for different tasks, such as visiting stores, checking prices, asking certain questions, and taking photos of displays, menus, or building exteriors.

Total time: slow

Set-up: medium

Payment: medium

Requirements

Find seasonal work

Need a gig for a few months? Try something seasonal, like being a lifeguard, working in hospitality, or working at a retailer during the holidays. Employers typically staff up a month or two ahead of their busy season, so plan ahead to get on their payroll. Check shop windows, online job listings, and local classifieds for seasonal opportunities. Consider uploading your CV to a database like CV Library to find seasonal or part-time positions.

During local or national elections, you could also apply to work at a poll station or as a count assistant. Opportunities are limited and can be competitive, so aim to apply early if you are interested.

If you want to assist with charity, Wesser offers seasonal and short-term door to door charity fundraiser positions.

Total time: slow

Set-up: medium to slow

Payment: slow

Requirements

Put your drone to work

The market for drones is expanding. Companies hire out work like aerial inspection, photography and land mapping. So if you’re already a drone enthusiast, why not put your aircraft to work? If you haven’t done so already, you will first need to register your drone (if it weighs 250g-20kg) with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), pass an online flyer test, and obtain permission from the CAA to use it commercially. Then, you can apply for gigs as a drone pilot, taking aerial photographs, mapping locations, and recording video shoots for example.

Set-up: slow

Payment: medium

Requirements

Watch out for scams

The internet is full of opportunities to make some quick cash online or from home, but many are questionable, if not outright scams. Be wary of any “opportunity” that asks for an upfront fee, wants you to pay for certification, or requests any financial information, such as your credit card number.Still unsure if an opportunity is legit? Look for community forums, like those on Reddit, for unfiltered reviews and complaints. Research the company and make sure that it is safe and trustworthy before entering any payment details.

»MORE: PayPal scams to be aware of

Source: Getty Images

About the Author

Rhiannon Philps

Rhiannon has been writing about personal finance for over three years, specialising in energy, motoring, credit cards and lending. After graduating from the University of Cambridge with a degree in…

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