We have all been there, we have our hearts set on a stress-free Christmas, a holiday somewhere sunny and or upgrading the car. The only thing between you and your savings goal is your bank balance. Most of us have a couple of hours per day free after the kids go down when we could be doing something else but we decide to binge-watch a series instead.
If you don’t try, you’ll never get
When you are faced with a bank balance that makes you feel like crying, especially if pay day isn’t for weeks, it’s so easy to give up and resign yourself to eating nothing but beans on toast.
Whilst there are plenty of scams out there which you should watch out for, there are still plenty of simple side-hustles that will help you earn some extra money fairly quickly.
I am not getting into the Amazon, e-commerce, drop-shipping gigs because, to be honest, it’s a minefield that has more casualties than winners.
So let’s start at home and things you can definitely control and are more likely to boost your income.
Get rid of old, useless ( to you), or unwanted things
Let’s face it; most homes are full of junk no one needs/wants. Usually, these items are hidden in a drawer, attic, or box somewhere that rarely ever gets opened.
You would probably be surprised what items people are actually willing to pay money for.
Below are just a few things people are willing to buy/trade and with websites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace and the newer trends for recycling old/ broken/unwanted stuff you’ll probably find your home to be full of earning potential
- Clothes
- Mobile Phones
- Books
- Cameras
- Games
- Photos
- Ink CartridgesA clear out will be good for the soul too.Search the internet, fill in surveys, proof read or complete various tasks.There are tons of websites out there which are offering money in exchange for things
you probably already do for free.If you have strong opinions about current affairs, spend hours searching the internet, or love watching videos then you could do all these and more whilst getting paid for them.Listen to the reviews as some of these websites only offer low pay for tasks or only offer points in exchange for vouchers. It can, however, be a fun way to spend some free time and these payments do add up.
Mystery Shopping, Website Testing, Freelancing, Writing Reviews
These are slightly more time-consuming ways of earning money, but if you are selected, can pay you more handsomely.
Advice here is to check the mode of payments etc as your earnings may count as taxable income. However, by regularly reviewing songs or testing websites you can top up your current income. Mystery
shopping has the added bonus of being paid to shop or eat at a restaurant.
Rent out your stuff
The list of things people are willing to rent from you is endless. These things can all
be rented on a long- or short-term basis –
- Parking Spaces (in-town)
- Garage (storage)
- Games consoles
- Audio system, including speakers
- Bikes
- Fancy dress costumes
- GardenYou could also make money from renting out your rooms in your house. There is a
rental shortage at present and AirBnB is always an option. Remember you may earn
€14,000 per year by renting a room out in your own home, before paying any tax.
This is under the rent-a-room relief.
The possibilities are endless!
These are just a few ideas but there are so many more. You could also dog/babysit, sell homemade goods, or even become a tutor. The internet has opened up so many possibilities for you to earn money, you just need to look.
Once the money starts coming in you can then start saving for the Christmas presents, a nice holiday or car!
Sean McNulty is the founder and Managing Director of Rethink Money Ltd, a financial advisory company based in Letterkenny. Sean’s company is a digital-first advisor with a bespoke software to help clients best manage their financial needs. Free financial reviews can be booked by messaging info@rethinkmoney.ie or booking via the website www.rethinkmoney.ie
