10 Ways to Make More Money Before the End of 2021

Remember that new year's resolution you made about growing your wealth this year? Hopefully you've made some progress, but if your plans went awry, don't worry. There's still time left to pad your wallet before we ring in the next new year.

Here are 10 strategies you can use to grow your wealth beginning right now. They may not all apply to you, but most people should be able to find at least a few that make sense for them.

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The most straightforward way to grow your wealth is to simply ask for a raise. Now might be a good time to do it, too. With the Great Resignation still underway, employers are offering unprecedented benefits to attract, and hopefully retain, new talent. You can use this as leverage to negotiate a better deal where you're at.

Set a time to meet with your employer and then discuss why you think you deserve a raise. Highlight specific ways your performance has helped the company, and be prepared to negotiate if need be.

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If your current employer can't offer you anything more, you might consider exploring some other job opportunities. Make a list of what matters the most to you in a new job, and don't just focus on salary. Think about employee benefits, work-from-home options, and anything else that could make the job more fulfilling for you.

Then, see what's out there. Depending on your field, you may not have to limit yourself to open positions in your area. If there are a lot of remote jobs in your industry, feel free to branch out and look at opportunities all over the country.

Another option is to start a side hustle. This gives you complete flexibility to choose what work you do, when you work, and what you charge. Some side hustles even turn into full-time jobs eventually.

But side hustles sometimes take a while to establish and you also have to be comfortable setting money aside for taxes on your own. Make sure you weigh the pros and the cons before deciding whether a side hustle is the right choice for you.

While some may consider this a side hustle, it isn't what usually comes to mind when people think of ways to make money. But it's a viable option for a lot of people these days thanks to a number of innovative new companies.

If you plan to travel over the holidays, you could rent out your home or apartment to those coming into the area. Or if you don't use your vehicle that often, you might be able to rent that out as well. It doesn't require a lot of work on your part and it could earn you a handsome profit.

ALSO READ: 3 Things You Can Do to Scrounge Up More Holiday Cash

It's not too late to throw a garage sale if you have some old belongings you're looking to get rid of. You could also sell them online through a marketplace app. If you don't want to bother with shipping, restrict customers to only those in your area.

Go through your home and look for items you're no longer using that you think someone else might want. It could be old toys your children outgrew, clothes you no longer wear, or even old kitchen appliances you've replaced with new versions. Just about anything is fair game.

5 Winning Stocks Under $49
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by the Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true. And while Amazon and Netflix have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Simply click here to learn how to get your copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

There's still time to claim your full 401(k) match if you haven't already done so. Check with your company's HR department to learn how its matching formula works and how much of your match you've already claimed. If you haven't gotten the whole thing, see if you can up your contributions for the rest of the year until you've claimed it all.

If you plan to quit your job soon, this may not be the best strategy, though. Most companies have vesting schedules that determine when employees get to keep employer-matched 401(k) funds. If you quit before then, you could forfeit some or all of your match. But if you've been with your company for at least six years, you shouldn't have to worry about vesting schedules.

Though not as common as a 401(k) match, some companies that offer health savings accounts (HSAs) as an employee benefit also offer a HSA match. This works just like a 401(k) match, except the funds go into your HSA instead.

You can use this money to help you cover medical costs, and if you do so, you won't owe taxes on the money at all. Nonmedical withdrawals are also an option, but you'll pay taxes on these, plus a 20% penalty if you're under 65.

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Whether you do so through a retirement account or a taxable brokerage account, investing is one of the best ways to grow your wealth over time. But that path to wealth is rarely linear. You can be doing great one day, only to see your investments fall the next day, then rise again the day after. You must be prepared for these ups and downs.

Diversifying -- spreading your money between at least a dozen stocks -- can help you reduce your risk of major losses. But a lot of investing well just comes down to being patient. Buying and holding for the long term is usually the best approach for those who are serious about growing their wealth.

If you're not comfortable investing your money right now, that doesn't mean you can't put it to work for you. Consider stashing your extra cash in a high-yield savings account or a certificate of deposit (CD) where it can earn more interest for you.

You'll get the best deals with online banks. They don't maintain costly branches, so they're able to offer more competitive rates on savings products and fewer fees.

The holiday season is almost here, and that means a lot of spending on food, gifts, and travel. Choosing the right credit cards for these purchases could help you rack up rewards points more quickly.

Take stock of which cards you already have in your wallet and what bonus categories and rewards points they offer. If you'd like, you could also consider adding another card to your wallet. Then, use them strategically so you can get the most rewards points possible.

5 Winning Stocks Under $49
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by the Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true. And while Amazon and Netflix have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Simply click here to learn how to get your copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

If you try some of the tips above, you can hopefully start 2022 off in a better financial position than you did in 2021. But don't just limit yourself to the suggestions above. Brainstorm other ways to increase your wealth and give them a try.

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