You can supplement income by working a side hustle in your spare time or investing your money to receive passive income. If you have an immediate demand for more money, you can consider taking online surveys, walking dogs, tutoring, selling belongings, and more.
Many people work side hustles to get more income. In fact, 44% of Americans have a side hustle to help cover bills.1 With the right approach, you could make enough to save, pay off debt, and enjoy the perks that come with financial freedom. Rather than learning to live and budget money on a low income, work to increase your overall income.
Keep reading for additional income ideas that are adaptable for all kinds of lifestyles.
Get a Side Hustle to Supplement Your Income
A side hustle can be an easy way to make money on top of your full-time job. For most people, a side-hustle is a part-time gig. Below are a few side hustle ideas that can be incorporated into a busy life:
Ride-Sharing To Get Paid
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft make it easy to make money with your vehicle. To start, your vehicle must pass a simple inspection and you must have a valid driver’s license. Additionally, you will have to download the respective app.
On top of a base amount of money coming in, tips can mean extra money for each trip. One of the most flexible things about this side hustle is that hours are extremely flexible, and you only have to work when you want to.
One downside to driving for cash is that you may not have a reliable source of income, as fewer riders mean fewer rides and income.
All and all you could make a good amount of money each day, making ride-sharing a great way to earn cash. Especially if you don’t have a ton of spare time to earn money.
Food Delivery and Grocery Services as Way To Earn Extra Income
The global pandemic has made food delivery and grocery shopping services essential for many households. For the people delivering this food, there could be a good amount of extra income.
Like ride-sharing, food delivery and grocery shopping services come with flexible hours and tips. Income amount will vary on where you are based and demand.
Become a Dog Walker or Cat Sitter To Earn Extra Income
Dog walking and cat sitting can be a great way to make money while helping improve an animal’s quality of life.
Get started by connecting with trusted sites like Rover, Fetch, or Care.com, dedicated to connecting clients with pet sitters. Although these sites will take a portion of your recurring income, they can screen clients for safety.
Pet sitters can be paid on an hourly basis averaging from $10-$50 per hour depending on the number of pets and their needs. Dog walking could pay more than cat sitting. In some cases, for longer stays, you may get paid a single fee upfront. A tip is often provided to pet sitters once the job is done as well.
Pet sitting may not be for those who have allergies, are inexperienced with pets, or have a daytime job. However, if you have a flexible schedule and love animals, pet sitting could be the perfect side hustle.
House sitting falls under the same category and can be one of the easiest ways to make extra income. House sitting involves being present in a home while the homeowner is away. Offer your services online through a platform or ask someone you know if they need help.
Social Media for Extra Funds
Have a large social media following? Social media deals could be the perfect side hustle for you. Generally, brands look for social media pages that have at least ten thousand followers.
From here they will ask you to promote their product (usually through platforms like Twitter, FB, and Instagram) with a special link or code that their followers can use.
Instagram is the most popularly used for social media brand partnerships. Because social media influencers can have a huge impact on sales and brand awareness, brands will pay good money for these promotions.
Social media accounts with five hundred thousand or more followers can make five thousand to ten thousand per post! This can be a great way to make extra money online with a hobby you may already be involved in.
Monetize a Skill To Earn Money Online
Teaching independently can be another great side hustle idea. Depending on what you are teaching and your licenses you could make good money online or in person.
Getting started with teaching as a side gig it will make the most sense to charge hourly, create a blog with a paywall, use a donation system, or create an online course. Here are a few skills that someone else may pay to learn:
- Learning to play an instrument or vocal lessons
- Visual arts
- Creative and academic writing (as a freelance writer or contractor)
- Computer skills (basics usage, programming, languages, basics on how to start a blog, etc.)
- Cooking (in person, or sites like YouTube or Twitch)
- Marketing and social media (marketing tactics, search engine optimization, and affiliate marketing)
- Sports and games
- Languages (teach English or any other language that is in demand)
On top of teaching, you can also offer your services as an expert to get paid. Here are some skills companies look for with contract or freelance work:
- Graphic design for income
- Custom art pieces /murals to earn extra money
- Cleaning as a side hustle
- Car customization and car washing
- Home staging
- Office work (virtual assistant, receptionist, bookkeeping)
- Survey sites to get paid
Monetizing a hobby can feel like a small business. Making art, podcasting, gaming, and customizing are just a few examples of hobbies that are a great way to get paid.
Sites like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace can make it easy to set up an online shop and sell tangible products or services. Streaming platforms and sites like Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Twitch are perfect for content creators looking to monetize for an audience.
Get Started With Passive Income as Ways To Make Money
Allocating your income into accounts/investments where it earns money on itself is passive income. These strategies can be a great way for busy individuals to earn money, who may not have the time to pursue a side hustle or get a side job. Below are a few ways to start:
Investing Your Money as a Way To Earn Extra Income
Investments can be a great way to earn some extra money with the income you are already making. Investing comes in several forms. While some accounts offer high rewards for risks, there are safe investments with lower returns.
| Investment Method | Description | Risk Level | Potential Returns |
| High Yield Savings Account | Offers higher interest rates than regular savings accounts. | Low | Low to Moderate |
| Stocks | Buying shares of a company. Returns come from dividends and capital appreciation. | High | Variable |
| Bonds | Lending money to an entity (e.g., government or corporation) in exchange for periodic interest. | Low to Moderate | Moderate |
| Real Estate | Investing in property. Can generate income through rentals or appreciation in property value. | Moderate to High | High |
| Mutual Funds | Pooled funds from multiple investors invested in stocks, bonds, or other assets. | Variable | Variable |
| Dividend Stocks | Stocks of companies that return a portion of their profits to shareholders in the form of dividends. | Moderate | Moderate to High |
| Peer-to-Peer Lending | Lending money to individuals or small businesses online in return for interest. | Moderate to High | Moderate to High |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | Companies that own or finance income-producing real estate. Investors earn from dividends. | Moderate | Moderate to High |
| Certificates of Deposit (CDs) | Time-specific deposits in banks with a fixed interest rate. Higher than regular savings. | Low | Low to Moderate |
| Cryptocurrency | Digital or virtual currencies using cryptography for security. Highly volatile. | Very High | Variable |
Investing can be one of the easiest ways to make money when you have the right resources. For further details on common investment options, keep reading.
Credit Cards To Make Money
Credit cards can come with all kinds of rewards. Some of them will have cashback which could mean making money for everyday expenses. Even without direct cashback, options like travel rewards and points can be a way to save money.
Rental Properties and Spaces To Earn Money
Although having rentals can fall into passive income, making money this way can come with a lot of work. Being a landlord comes with responsibility for the property and sometimes the residents that live in it. For those with resources and the time, rental properties could be a good way to make some extra income.
And so, if you are up for the work, having rental properties can be a great way to have reliable supplemental income each month. With multiple rental properties, you could make a good amount of money.
If you have extra room in your place, consider renting out a spare bedroom. Depending on your location, you could be getting paid a good enough amount to supplement your income.
Sell Items To Make Money
Chances are that you have some things that you could sell to make a bit of extra money. Depending on your location, your assets could be in demand. For example, the pandemic has caused vehicles to sell for thousands of dollars more than they usually go for.
Selling stuff you don’t need can be a great way to make some money on the side. Here are a few assets that others may be willing to pay good money for:
- Vehicles (RVs, ATVs, cars, vans, etc.)
- Boats
- Collectibles (art, figurines, pieces of vinyl, etc.)
- Instruments
- Jewelry
- Tools
These are just a few items to sell for some extra cash. Get creative based on demand, trends, and your location.
Sites like craigslist, Poshmark, Facebook marketplace, and eBay can make it easy to sell items online. Your personal social media accounts may also be another place to sell things. Although making money this way is limited to a few items, it can still mean some extra cash.
The Best Ways To Spend That Extra Earnings
Found your side hustle or other ways to make extra earnings? Here is how you can spend that extra cash:
Create a Savings Fund After Making Money
If you don’t have three to months of savings in the case of an emergency, the extra money you make could be a great place to start. Saving a portion of your income per month, or anytime you get paid can help you save.
One way to ensure that the extra money on the side is going into savings is to set up online payments to a savings account. This way, every time you get money in your bank account, a portion goes into savings.
Pay Off Debt
The longer you have debt, the more it can cost you. And so, when you make some extra cash, it could be a great idea to pay off debt. This is especially true for high-interest debt or large installment loans, such as credit cards, cash advance loans, title loans, and bad credit loans.
Not only can this approach help you save money over time but decreasing debt can help improve a FICO score.
Use the Freedom of the Extra Funds
Rest assured, there are plenty of ways to get 100 dollars or more right now. You just have to know where to look.
If you are making a good amount of money through a side hustle, and are doing financially well, then you may want to use that extra funds on yourself. Traveling, pursuing a hobby, putting a down payment on a home or a car, are just a few examples of bucket list items.
No matter what your skills, talents, and spare time you have, there are ways to get quick cash without taking out quick cash loans. Take on a flexible side hustle, market your talents, sell items, or learn about the different ways to make extra with savings. Making even a bit of extra money each month could mean more freedom to pay yourself for the extra cash that you worked so hard to get.
FAQs About Supplemental Income
Supplemental income refers to the additional money you earn outside of your primary source of income, such as your full-time job. It’s a way to generate extra income beyond your regular paycheck.
Absolutely! Starting your own website, blog, or YouTube channel can be a great way to get supplemental income. By sharing valuable content, you can attract advertisers, sponsors, or even set up affiliate marketing to earn passive income.
While surveys won’t make you rich, they can provide a few dollars here and there. The amount you earn depends on the survey’s length and complexity. It’s a flexible way to earn a bit of additional income on your own schedule.
Yes, teaching a foreign language online can be a lucrative way to make supplemental income, especially if you’re fluent in a language that’s in high demand. Platforms like iTalki or Verbling connect teachers with students worldwide.
While having a large following can increase your earnings, it’s not mandatory. Quality content that attracts a niche audience can also be monetized through ads, affiliate links, or sponsored content.
There are several ways to generate passive income with minimal investment. For instance, you can create digital products, write an ebook, or even use affiliate marketing on your blog or website.
Yes, there are platforms like UserTesting where you can test websites and provide feedback. It’s a straightforward way to earn a few dollars while helping companies improve their user experience.
It’s essential to do thorough research. Check reviews, look for testimonials, and avoid opportunities that ask for money upfront. Remember, genuine opportunities to bring in supplemental income won’t ask you to pay to get started.
Yes, many online surveys and tasks are short and can be completed during breaks or in your free time. However, ensure it doesn’t interfere with your primary job responsibilities and always prioritize your full-time job tasks.
Start by setting clear boundaries. Dedicate specific hours to your supplemental income activities and ensure you take breaks. Using tools like calendars or time management apps can help you stay organized and prevent burnout.
A Note From CreditNinja About Supplemental Income
Trying to supplement your income can be daunting when you don’t know where to start. But with the right knowledge, you can start earning more money to pay bills, start an emergency fund, and pay down outstanding debt.
For more information on how to improve personal finance, check out the CreditNinja Dojo. We offer free financial articles on our website to help consumers like you get accurate and useful information.
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