Many people are in need of some extra cash now and then. Emergencies pop up without warning. People want to buy birthday presents or just treat themselves to something special. You don’t need to give up your day job just to put a bit of money in your pocket.
Look around your house
You might be in for a pleasant surprise when you look through your junk drawer or wallet. Examine all the cards you see. Some of them might be forgotten gift cards. You can trade them in for the money you want instead.
Money you forgot about
Maybe you opened up a bank account a long time ago or you have a security deposit you didn’t claim. Check the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). Databases such as Workers Owed Wages and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation can also be of help.
Earn passive income
Passive income is income you don’t have to do anything else to earn. Start a blog and write good posts. Sell your photos to popular websites like Getty and earn royalties when someone uses it in their own work.
Drive around with other people
You’ve probably heard of ridesharing companies. You might even have used one yourself. Join the legions of people who make some cash helping others. Many companies let people offer a few rides now and then. Download the app, agree to the terms and you’re halfway there. Make money when you’re using your car. You can also find apps that will let you rent out your car when you’re not driving it.
Watch people’s kids or pets
Parents often need someone to fill in the gap between when school’s out and when they get home. If you have some free time you can be there to help keep an eye on your neighbor’s son for after school. The same is true of people with pets. They might need someone to care for the animal when they’re on vacation. You can care for a cat in your own home.
Sell stuff you’re not using
The stuff you have on hand isn’t going to do you much good if you’re not using it. Have a look around your home. You probably have things you haven’t used in a long time. These are things you can sell. Look at the condition of the item. If it’s good condition, you can probably recoup a significant amount of the money you paid for it. From clothing, jewelry and handbags to old electronics, you can declutter your home and make money at the same time.
Take surveys
You don’t have to leave your home to find someone who wants to hear what you have to say. Many companies are looking for people to answer a few simple questions. They’re also looking for people for much larger focus groups about a specific product or service. Sign up with a few services at the same time. They’ll send you surveys you can do when you’re watching television.
