Your paycheck used to feel like enough. Now, it seems like everything costs more, and you're left wondering how other people make it work. Maybe you want to tackle that credit card debt, save up for something special, or just stop worrying about money so much.
Many of us have more earning potential than we realize. Small changes and creative ideas can add up quickly, without quitting your job or learning new complicated skills. Most of the ideas we share fit into your current schedule and use talents you already have.
In this article, we’ll share 15 smart and simple ideas on how to earn extra money.
15 Ways to Make Money on the Side
Side income opportunities range from quick cash-generating activities like selling unused items to longer-term strategies like freelancing or renting out space.
Making extra money doesn't have to mean taking on a second full-time job. There are plenty of flexible options that work around your life, not against it. Some ideas let you earn money from home in your pajamas, while others get you out meeting new people. Some require a few hours of active work, while others can generate income while you sleep. The key is finding what fits your schedule, your skills, and your comfort zone.
1. Sell Items You No Longer Use
Selling unused clothing, electronics, and household items can generate immediate cash while freeing up space in your home.
Look around your house and you'll probably find hundreds of dollars sitting in closets and drawers. Poshmark works great for clothes, while Facebook Marketplace and eBay handle everything else. Take good photos, write honest descriptions, and price competitively. You may be surprised at how much money you can make from things you forgot you owned.
2. Offer Freelance Services Online
Freelancing platforms allow you to monetize existing writing, design, administration, or coding skills on your own schedule.
Maybe you write clear emails, are an Excel wizard, or create award-worthy brochures. These everyday abilities are perfect examples of how to make extra money through freelancing. Create profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn, start with competitive rates, then raise your rates as you gain positive reviews.
3. Try Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
Pet care services turn an animal lover's passion into a steady side income with flexible scheduling.
If you love animals, pet sitting and dog walking can feel less like work and more like getting paid to hang out with furry friends. Through Rover and Wag, you set your own rates and availability, making it perfect for earning extra money around your regular schedule.
4. Deliver Food or Groceries
Food and grocery delivery services offer flexible earning opportunities where you control your schedule and workload.
Delivery work puts you in the driver's seat, literally. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart let you login whenever you want to work and log out when you're done, providing incredible flexibility. The pay varies by location and time of day, but you may find you can make good money during busy periods.
5. Take Online Surveys or Research Studies
Online surveys and research studies provide an easy way to earn small amounts of money during downtime with minimal effort required.
Taking surveys won't make you rich, but it can help you earn extra cash for the time you're already spending online. Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and UserTesting let you earn money by sharing opinions or testing websites. Many people earn $20 to $100 monthly, making surveys a simple way to bring in extra cash during downtime.
6. Rent Out a Room or Your Space
Turn your spare room or unused space into monthly income by hosting travelers who need a place to stay.
Got an extra bedroom or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)? Your unused square footage could become a steady income stream. Airbnb makes listing your space, setting rates, and managing your calendar simple. Before starting, check your local laws and consider safety measures like background checks for guests.
7. Become a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistant work turns your natural organizational skills into remote income by supporting busy entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Virtual assistants handle behind-the-scenes tasks that keep businesses running smoothly from anywhere. Tasks include managing social media, customer service, or research. Look for clients through VA websites, job boards, or by networking with small business owners.
8. Start a Simple Side Hustle
A side hustle means turning skills you already have into a small business that can generate regular income on your own schedule.
Some of the best ways to earn extra money come from solving problems you see around you. Homeowners might need a hand with gardening, or busy families could use cleaning services. Starting small is what matters most. Pick something you already know how to do well, test it with a few customers, and scale up gradually.
9. Use Cash-Back or Rewards Apps
Rewards apps turn everyday purchases into small earnings by offering cash back, points, or discounts on items you buy.
Why not get paid for the shopping you're already doing? Cash-back apps work in the background of your regular spending habits. Scan receipts, shop through app links, or use linked credit cards to earn a percentage back on groceries, gas, and other purchases. Apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, and Honey each work a little differently, so you may want to use several to maximize your earnings.
10. Drive for a Rideshare Service
Driving for rideshare companies gives you complete control over your schedule while connecting you with people in your community.
Unlike delivery work, you may find rideshare driving to be more profitable, since you’re transporting people, which usually means higher fares and the possibility of tips. You'll need a clean driving record, insurance coverage, and a vehicle that meets company standards to get started.
11. Offer Childcare or Babysitting
Childcare and babysitting provide a reliable income for experienced caregivers, as parents consistently need trustworthy help with their children.
Parents in your community are always searching for dependable childcare, which makes this one of the most reliable income sources. This work provides steady earnings if you connect well with kids or have experience caring for them. Build your client base through people you know, then let word-of-mouth do the rest. Care.com and Sittercity.com help you find local families, though personal referrals often lead to the best arrangements.
12. Teach or Tutor Online
Online tutoring platforms turn your knowledge into income by connecting you with students who need help learning.
Your expertise in practically any topic can become income through online teaching. Wyzant matches tutors with students struggling in subjects from algebra to art history, while VIPKid specializes in teaching English to children internationally. You don't need formal teaching credentials to help students learn skills you already have. Sessions happen on your schedule, and rates depend on your subject and experience.
13. Try Affiliate Marketing or Print-on-Demand
Affiliate marketing and print-on-demand services offer paths to passive income by promoting products or creating custom designs without upfront costs.
- Affiliate marketing involves promoting products you genuinely use and earning commissions when people buy through your links.
- Print-on-demand lets you upload designs to Redbubble or TeeSpring, which are printed on products only after customers order them.
Both online business models require time to build momentum, but once established, they may generate income with less ongoing effort.
14. Help People with Errands or Tasks
Task-based services connect you with neighbors who need help with odd jobs, creating opportunities to earn money through short-term projects.
Everyone has tasks they'd rather hand off. With TaskRabbit, you can connect with neighbors who need help assembling furniture, moving boxes, or doing yard work. Local Facebook groups and Nextdoor also post requests for everything from grocery shopping to pet care. The beauty of task work is its variety. You might help someone organize their garage one day and pick up dry cleaning the next.
15. Monetize a Hobby
Creative hobbies like photography, crafting, or fitness can bring in extra money through online marketplaces and local services.
That thing you do for fun might actually be worth money to other people. Good at baking? You can earn money selling custom cakes. Know your way around a sewing machine? Alterations are always in demand. Play an instrument? Private lessons can be lucrative. The transition from hobby to income often happens gradually, and since you're already skilled at something you enjoy, monetizing it feels natural rather than forced.
How Can I Make an Extra $1000 a Month?
Making an extra $1,000 a month is absolutely possible with a structured plan and intentional habits that focus on both reducing unnecessary expenses and creating new income opportunities.
The following approach comes from the $1,000 Month bonus training in the Million Dollar Year and breaks down into four key areas:
- Cancel subscriptions you don't need or use: Many people underestimate their monthly subscription spending and forget about services they no longer use, which can add up to significant savings when you learn how to budget without feeling restricted.
- Shift your mindset: If you don't believe you can earn more money, you'll talk yourself out of opportunities before you even try them. When you start trusting that you can increase your income, you'll notice possibilities everywhere. This money mindset shift changes everything for the women+ we work with.
- Create an income plan: Look at what you're already good at and consider how those skills could bring in extra money. Maybe it's freelancing, gig work, or turning a hobby into something profitable. Multiple income ideas can help you build a wealth-building plan and give you better odds of hitting that $1000 goal.
- Take action: All the planning in the world will be meaningless if you don't actually do anything. Start small with goals you can actually achieve, then build from there.
When you cut unnecessary spending and create new income, $1000 extra per month becomes much more realistic.
Making Extra Money Is Within Reach
Extra income isn't just for people with special skills or tons of free time. You already have what it takes to start making more money—you just need to choose your first move. Pick one idea from this list that feels right for your situation and give it a try. Maybe you'll sell a few things this weekend, or sign up for a delivery app during your lunch break. Learning how to earn extra money doesn't have to be perfect or complicated, and small actions can add up to real changes in your bank account.
At Dow Janes, we know that making more money is just one piece of building lasting financial security. Our community of women+ supports each other through every step of the journey, and our coaching programs give you the tools and accountability to create real transformation in your relationship with money.
Ready to keep building your financial security? Watch our free masterclass on building wealth to learn our system for earning more, saving smarter, and creating the stability you deserve. And for weekly financial tips designed specifically for women+, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
FAQ: How to Earn Extra Money
Have quick questions about the best ways to make some extra money? These are the most common questions people have when looking to add income from home or around their regular schedule.
How do you earn an extra $100 a week?
Earning an extra $100 weekly is achievable through consistent small efforts, such as selling unused items, completing delivery gigs during peak hours, or offering services you're already good at, like pet sitting or tutoring.
How can I make money online easily?
The easiest ways to make extra money online require minimal setup and use skills you already have, such as taking surveys, freelancing with existing abilities, or selling items through marketplace apps.
What is the highest-paid side hustle?
High-paying side jobs for extra money can include freelance consulting, specialized tutoring, real estate activities, or skilled services like web development—side hustles where you could earn anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars monthly.
How to make an extra $2000 a month working from home?
Learning how to make extra income from home at this level usually requires combining multiple income sources or developing one substantial skill, such as freelance writing, virtual assistance, or online tutoring, into a part-time business.
How do I build my savings?
Building savings happens through earning more income and managing expenses wisely, with extra income from side work providing additional money to set aside for your financial goals.
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