Many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We highlight five easy, manageable ways to make a bit on the side.
With Christmas on the way, many of us are dreading our bank or credit card statements. There just doesn't seem to be enough cash to cover the various costs of this time of year!
However, there are a few dead easy ways to make a few quid in your spare time, to help lift that burden.
1. Rent it out
Renting out your various assets can be a low-effort way to earn some regular income. And these days, taking in a lodger isn’t the only answer.
The SpareGround website allows to you to rent out all sorts of spaces, from your loft (for storage) to your garden (for use as an allotment, for example).
There are also several websites that specialise in helping you rent out your parking space to other motorists. ParkAtMyHouse, YourParkingSpace and ParkLet are all worth a look.
2. Grow it, sell it
If you’re an enthusiastic gardener, why not sell some of your excess fruit and veg? It won’t make you rich, but it may well pay for any gardening supplies you need to keep enjoying your hobby.
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Try sticking a card up in your local library, and spreading the word amongst family and neighbours. The popularity of locally-grown produce has shot up in recent years - and if you use organic techniques, even better!
For more green-fingered money making ideas, read How to save and make money in the garden.
3. Cash in on your creative talents
Are you one of the knitting mafia? Perhaps you’re a whizz with a needle and thread, or do woodwork in your spare time?
If you’re a crafty type, there are now plenty of opportunities to sell your creations online.
In the last few years, several online marketplaces have emerged, to help small-scale designers and artists sell their wares.
The biggest (US-based) site is Etsy - whilst good UK-based alternatives include Misi, Folksy and Coriandr. Read Make money using your creative talents to find out more.
4. Earn while you spend
One of the easiest ways to make a bit on the side is via cashback websites. You choose your favourite one, register and make all your online purchases via that site.
Rachel Robson takes a look at a great way to earn cash back when shopping online
In a nutshell, you’ll then either get a percentage of your money back, or a fixed amount of cash, every time you buy something.
And you don’t have to be a big spender to see the benefits; you can get cashback on all sorts of essential purchases, from food shopping to insurance.
To find out more about how cashback sites work - and find the best one for you - read The best way to shop online.
5. Get paid to have an opinion
If you have some spare time on your hands, you can make a few pounds by getting involved in online surveys.
Obviously it’s important you choose a reputable company. YouGov, for example, is a well-established, well-respected polling company, and has generally been given the thumbs-up by lovemoney.com readers.
It usually pays out between 50p and £1 for each survey you complete. And once you’ve built up £50, it will send you a cheque. You can register to join the YouGov panel here.
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