12 ways to make quick, easy cash

Need extra cash, but don't have time for a second job? Read on!

For most people, now isn’t the time to ask for a pay rise. Many Brits are struggling to hang on to the jobs they’ve got; and time constraints mean taking on a second job simply isn’t an option.

So, how can you make a bit of extra cash quickly and easily? Growing and selling your own fruit and veg is all very well… but it’s not the sort of thing that happens overnight.

We’ve rounded up 12 cash-making schemes that should bear fruit quickly, and with minimum effort. Cha-ching!

1. Cashback websites

When you’re shopping online, going via a cashback website like Quidco could earn you pounds back. It takes - literally - a few seconds.

Watch this video to find out more about how cashback sites work.

2. Sell your photos

This only works as an easy money-maker if you already have a stash of decent photographs.

Upload your snaps to a stock photography site - you’ll usually be paid either on a per-download or per-sale basis. To find out more about selling your photos, read Make money from your hobby!.

3. Complete a survey

There are several reputable marketing firms that pay members of the public to complete their surveys. YouGov and Panelbase are both a pretty good bet - surveys take as little as ten minutes, and some pay as much as £10 each!

4. Sell your music

The two main problems with selling on eBay are a.) all the seller fees and b.) the amount of time it takes to put a listing together. It’s a hassle.

With MusicMagpie, there are no fees involved - and you can sell old CDs, DVDs and games quickly and easily.

In a nutshell, you enter the barcode of the CD you want to flog, and the site offers you a price. You can list lots of CDs at once, pop them in a freepost envelope and receive your payment. Simple!

5. Trade in your old mobile

There are now several online companies that specialise in turning old mobile handsets into cash.

You find out how much your handset is worth by typing in the name of the model. If you’re happy with the price, you send off your phone freepost, and get cash in return.

You can find out more about selling your old handset in this article.

6. Flog your old electricals

SimplyDrop works along very similar lines, allowing you to make money by trading in old MP3 players, digital cameras and even empty ink cartridges!

Again, you register, post off our items and get cash in return.

7. Reclaim what’s yours

Ten minutes’ research could make you hundreds of pounds richer. Many of us have forgotten money languishing in old, dormant accounts that we haven’t accessed for years.

Use MyLostAccount - a free and secure service provided by the British Bankers Association - to trace it. Find out more in Get your hands on some extra cash.

8. Switch savings accounts

One of the quickest ways to up your income is to make the most of your personal finance products.

First, switch your savings into an account paying a decent rate of interest. If you think you might need to access them at any time, choose an easy access account.

For example, the Nationwide MySave Online Plus Account currently pays 3.05%, including a bonus of 1.51% for 12 months. You can open the account with £1,000.

9. Switch current accounts

Certain current accounts will reward you with cash incentives when you switch to using them.

For example, the Santander Preferred Current Account will give you £100 when you switch to it and pay in at least £1,000 every month.

And on top of this, you’ll an impressive 5% AER on balances of up to £2,500 for the first 12 months.

10. Use a cashback credit card

If you’re confident you can clear your credit card balance every month, you could also earn easy money using a cashback credit card.

For example, you can earn 5% cashback for the first three months with the American Express Platinum Cashback Credit Card and up to 1.25% thereafter.

To find out more, read Five top cashback credit cards.

Related how-to guide

Make some extra money

It’s easy to increase your income using these tips.

See the guide

11. Take in a lodger

If you don’t mind sharing your living space, you could make substantial amounts of cash by taking in a lodger.

And under the government’s Rent a Room scheme, you can receive up to £4,250 a year tax-free. Read Make money from a lodger to find out more about what’s involved.

12. Rent out… pretty much anything!

And finally - if you don’t fancy having a stranger in your house, there’s another rental solution to consider. The SpareGround website allows you to list pretty much any space you like for renting out - be it your garden, loft space or broom cupboard!

Alternatively, you could use one of several specialist websites to rent out your driveway to other motorists. To find out more about a host of rental options, read Rent your way to a fortune.

This is a classic article that has been updated for 2011.

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