Merriam-Webster dictionary has listed the term “side-hustle” as one of the words/terms to watch because of the huge increase in popularity of the term. So, what is a side-hustle?
A side-hustle is something separate from the main job that can earn you money, recognition, clout, and more. It can be a part-time job, or it can be something extra you do, well, on the side.
Not everyone has time to dedicate to a part-time job, but that doesn’t mean those people don’t need extra money to supplement their income. In fact, an estimated 37% of Americans have a side-hustle to help them with bills, loans, and general costs of living.
But if you don’t have time for a part-time job, what can you do? Well, it turns out there are a lot of things you can do to earn some extra cash.
Here are 10 unconventional ways to make money on the side from home.
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1. Sell Your Stuff:
This is pretty simple stuff that everyone from adults with stores to kids with lemonade stands knows: goods can be sold in exchange for money. So why not sell stuff you already have in your possession that you don’t want or need to get some extra money?
Let’s go over some of the best stuff you can sell for the biggest profit.
Electronics:
Old TVs and VCRs need not apply since these can be found by the truckload at any thrift store. But selling new and lightly used modern electronics like laptops, the newest phones, and headphones can make you a nice wad of money.
Try selling these things at pawn shops, on Craigslist, or electronic selling websites like Swappa.
Clothes:
Nice and lightly worn (or never worn!) clothes can be sold for fast cash. You can sell nice brand name clothes online for serious money (this Supreme shirt sold for fifteen thousand dollars!) or you can hit up consignment shops.
Precious Metals and Gems:
Gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals consistently sell for a large amount. Sell old jewelry, watches, and more at pawn shops or jewelers to make some extra money.
You can also sell gemstone jewelry like rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Diamonds will sell for the most money, but any gemstone will be valuable on resale.
Gift Cards:
Have you ever gotten a gift card from your distant relative on Christmas that you know is going to lay forgotten in a drawer, sad and unused? Well, you can sell those gift cards for cash on websites like Cardpool.com.
Textbooks:
Every student in the world knows that the cost of textbooks closely rivals that of student loans and tuition. If you have textbooks from school leftover, sell them for a nice profit.
Blood and Plasma:
Besides material goods, you can sell your body, for science and medicine that is. Between selling your blood, plasma, and bone marrow a bone marrow along with participating in paid medical research studies, you can use your body to your advantage.
2.Become an Egg Donor:
Speaking of selling parts of your body, if you have eggs, you can sell them to egg donation and surrogacy agencies for some serious money. This is a serious decision that will take a lot of evaluation, medical testing, large needles, and more.
However, you can make tens of thousands of dollars doing this, so it’s something to consider if you need the money. Be sure to learn about it before you dive in, though.
3. Rent Out Your Home:
Have an extra room that never gets used? What about a guest house or an extra property?
Rent them out to tenants for some consistent passive income. You can also put them up on sites like Airbnb if you don’t want to become a landlord.
4. Give Your Opinion:
Online surveys, in-person focus groups, and paid college research studies are all willing to give you cash in exchange for your opinions. Join survey sites to get daily surveys that can earn you quick cash for 10-15 minute surveys or large sums for long-term focus groups!
5. Rent Out Your Vehicle:
Similar to renting out rooms in your home, you can also use apps and websites to offer your vehicle up for rent. This could be a secondary vehicle you have or even your main vehicle that you aren’t using for certain hours or days.
One of the best ways to do this is through the service Turo. This provides you with liability insurance while letting you set up your own costs and rates for your car.
6. Save Up Some Change:
Remember your childhood piggy bank? The service “Acorns” is the adult version of this.
Acorns automatically round every purchase you make with a debit or credit card to the nearest dollar. It then automatically saves this change for you.
While a few pennies and dimes here and there doesn’t seem like much, it will add up in the long run just like your piggy bank did.
7. Start Investing:
Investing in stocks, companies, and specialty bank accounts might seem daunting, and it is at first. Brush up on investment strategies and information before investing any of your money so you feel safe and secure doing so.
Once you feel ready, you can start putting the money you already have into stocks, savings accounts, money markets, and more. This will make money from the money you already have.
There are even apps and websites for beginner investors to help you out.
8. Take Advantage of Your Hobbies:
Certain hobbies can prove to be lucrative if you play your cards right.
Writing:
If you love to write, why not write a book? If you write a book and get published, this is a great way to make some passive income while also feeling creatively fulfilled doing something you love!
You can also write articles for magazines, newspapers, and online websites. This won’t technically be a job since you’re doing it for fun as a hobby, but you might as well make some money off of it if you can!
Blogging:
Speaking of writing for online websites, you could start writing for your own blog. If you’re able to build up an audience, you can make great money with advertisements, views, guest posts, and affiliate marketing.
Photography:
Do you love taking photos? Are you pretty good at it? You can sell your images to stock photo sights, journals, and newspapers for some great money.
Art and Crafts:
If you make are like drawings, prints, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, or anything else crafty and interesting, you should try to sell it for some extra money. You’re already creating these beautiful items, so you might as well sell them for a profit while you’re at it.
Try selling these things online, on websites like Etsy, or at art/craft fairs in your local area.
9. Contests and Giveaways:
Search the web for free contests and giveaways that you can enter. These types of contests can reward you with money, technology, travel, and other valuable prizes without you having to do anything except fill out an entry form.
If you don’t win any cash in a contest, you might win items that you can sell for cash.
10. Advertise On Your Car:
If you have a car, you should consider renting it out like we suggested earlier. But if you’re a bit nervous about doing that, you can still use your car to make some extra money by teaming up with a company or business.
They’ll outfit your car with stickers, wrapping, or other advertising tools so that your car will be a 24/7 advertisement for them.
How much you make will depend on:
- The size of your car
- Where you drive
- How much you drive per day
- The company you work with
While this does significantly change the appearance of your car, it can make you hundreds of dollars per month.
Unconventional Ways to Make Money: Final Thoughts:
While this list does give you 10 great unconventional ways to make money, it’s far from a comprehensive guide. Take the first point, for example. You can sell almost anything in your home for money, not just the things we listed.
Hopefully, these 10 things spark an idea in your mind that will help you make some extra money without having to commit to a part-time job on top of everything else you’re juggling.
Looking for more finance tips? Check out the finance section of our blog to learn about everything from investment tips to how to save money for retirement.
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