Earn extra money from home the easy way with our top 21 tips, from selling on eBay through to getting paid to watch TV.
We’d all like to earn a little extra money, and if you can earn that extra money from home it’s even better. With the rise of sites like Fiverr, eBay and Etsy, turning your downtime into dollars has never been easier.
One in three Americans earn money on the side
Side hustles are big business in the US. Around 34% of Americans are already earning extra money from home, and that number is only expected to rise. According to research, a further 61.1 million workers plan to start a side hustle by the end of the year, and there’s nothing stopping you from being one of them.
- 46% need to earn more money
- 38% say they do it mainly for enjoyment
- 16% are testing out a new business idea.
It goes to show that making money at home doesn’t have to be hard work; it can also be fun work, imaginative work, and work that sets you up for a future of business success.
Take a look at our 21 top tips to earn money from home. These aren’t get-rich-quick schemes, and we can’t guarantee you’ll make millions. But they could help you top up your wages and maybe, one day, help turn your side hustle into a full-time business.
The best ways to make money from home
Making extra money from home can be as easy as clearing out your loft, or as fulfilling as setting up your own side business. We look at the different ways that have been proven to work, and offer our tips on how you can make the most of them.
Earn extra money by clearing out your home
1. eBay
eBay is a great site for turning your trash into someone else’s treasure. Whether that’s something small like old clothes or clutter, or something potentially lucrative like a piece of furniture or some collectibles, eBay could quickly help you make money out of things that you no longer need.
2. Facebook Marketplace
If you want to sell things locally, Facebook Marketplace is the option for you. There are no fees for selling here, so you get to keep all of the profit you make.
3. Trade-in sites
There are lots of product-specific sites where you can earn money by trading in your old items. Things like CDs, old phones, old clothes and even old books have a market value online. Just do a search to find the best fit for you.
4. Cash in on accessories
Things like old iPhones, cables, remote controls and power packs can all be worth money to the right person. If they’re in good condition and in full working order, someone will want them. Sites like Gumtree are a good place to start.
5. Turn a profit
If you’ve got an eye for a bargain, there are plenty to be found at yard sales. It’s always worth checking the market value on sites like eBay before you buy; if you’re savvy, you could turn that bargain into big bucks.
6. Give old clothes a new home
Don’t wear it anymore? Someone else might. Register on sites like Vinted or Depop and list your old clothes. So long as they’re not damaged, they could be looking great on someone else in no time.
Earn money by renting out your space
7. Airbnb
If you’ve got a spare room, it could be an easy way to make money from home. It’s simple to list a space on Airbnb, and so long as you keep it tidy, safe, and don’t mind having a lodger around occasionally, you could soon start to see cash come in.
8. Offer storage
Sites like Storenextdoor let you list storage space for people to use. An empty garage, free loft or unoccupied shed could be a quick way to help you make money and help someone else clear out their clutter.
9. Rent out parking
Parking can be a nightmare, but it can also be a dream way to earn some extra cash. Rent out your extra parking space and make money while making someone’s life easier.
10. Rent out your home as a film set
Hollywood, baby! Film producers need places to film, and your home could be one of them. List it on a site like Lavish Locations and you could earn thousands of dollars a day. Don’t expect instant returns though; there are more properties available than films.
11. Share your ride
Not only is carpooling a great way to cut down on your carbon footprint, it can also be a quick way to earn extra cash. Register your car on a ride-sharing site and earn while you’re on the road.
Earn money for your opinion
12. Paid surveys
Businesses will pay you to say what you think of them. Your opinion could help make their website better, their product more usable, or even their customer service friendlier.
13. Watch TV
OK, we know this one sounds too good to be true. But trust us, some companies will pay you to watch TV shows and share your views on them. Get the popcorn ready.
14. Go shopping
Mystery shopping is a multi-billion dollar industry, so get yourself a slice of that pie. Companies will pay you to browse the aisles and engage with the staff. Just don’t spend all your earnings while you’re there.
15. Play games
Games developers need to know if their games are any good; get paid for testing them.
Earn money by being creative
16. Sell T-shirts
Teespring is a site that lets you put your own designs on T-shirts, mugs, hats and all kinds of other things. You create the design and set the price: they do all the legwork, you reap the rewards.
17. Freelance
If you’ve got a skill that people need, you don’t have to limit it to 9-5. Many companies will allow you to freelance on the side (so long as you don’t work for rival firms) and you could earn hundreds of dollars a day on top of your monthly wages.
18. Solve global issues
Sounds like a big challenge, doesn’t it? But it could pay out big rewards. Sites like InnoCentive offer cash rewards for innovative solutions to world issues, meaning you could make good money while making a huge difference.
19. Etsy
Etsy is a creative marketplace, offering a great way to earn money from home by selling crafts, art, fashion, jewelry and more.
20. Fiverr
If you’ve got a creative skill, Fiverr is full of people looking to pay you for it. Just sign up and fill in your details, and you’ll soon be set to start earning.
21. Gig jobs
If you’re handy with a tool, or generally just good at helping out, there's a gig job waiting for you. You could be putting up some shelves one day, and helping someone move the next. Whatever you’re good at, you could get paid for it.