15 Extra Income Ideas You Can Do Right Now

There are lots of ways one can make extra money. You might, for instance, follow the example of various billionaires who started a little business in their garage or dorm room. That's not the most reliable path to financial security, though. So here are 15 arguably better ideas to consider. (If you have an amazing idea and a terrific garage, though, consider going for it!)

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First up is the standard way to get more income: the regular part-time job. This might involve being a cashier at your local grocery store or retailer several evenings a week. Or it might mean waiting tables on weekends. There are myriad possibilities, including some work you can even do at home, such as telemarketing.

Next is a new kind of side gig: being an "influencer." Being successful at this means you've amassed a sizable following on one or more social media sites such as Instagram, where you will typically have a specific focus, to draw people with the same interest. You might be a coffee expert, sharing photos and thoughts on various coffees, or you might review books you've read or the latest in footwear -- or perhaps you can be a political guru, sharing your views. You can make money through ads if you have lots of people clicking on your posts -- and you may be able to make even more if you plug various products now and then and feature some sponsored posts.

It's not necessarily easy to become a social media influencer, so you can probably make money driving instead. You might drive for a service such as Uber or Lyft, ferrying passengers. For best results, aim to be friendly and earn a five-star rating. Making your service stand out can also help -- you might, for example, offer a charging cord so that customers can charge their phones while they ride.

ALSO READ: Uber: Great Company or Bad Business Model?

If you like the idea of driving for extra money but you'd rather not have lots of strangers in your car, you might drive for a different kind of service -- delivering meals from restaurants or supermarkets or items from drugstores. All kinds of things can be delivered these days, and many businesses need assistance with deliveries.

If you have one or two particular skills or like the idea of accepting a variety of odd jobs, look into services such as Fiverr International or TaskRabbit, which match up those with tasks that need to be done with those willing to do them. You might agree to assemble some IKEA furniture for one customer, help someone move, plant some flowers, fix a leaky faucet, and so on. The new gig economy offers many opportunities.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
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!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

This is a way to get some extra money that can take just an hour or two every year: Simply call around to various insurers, to see if you can get a better price on your home, renter's, umbrella, or car insurance, or other policies, too. Insurers have different pricing algorithms, and while one might offer you the best rate one year, another might have a better deal the next year. You might save several hundred dollars this way. Raising your deductible on any policy is likely to save you a bunch of money, too -- but be sure you can afford to pay the deductible if you end up having to.

ALSO READ: Why Your Premiums Are Going Up, and More Insurance Trends to Watch in 2022

If you're able to fill lots of pages with a story or your thoughts or opinions, you might write a book on it, to be distributed electronically. This won't necessarily net you many dollars, though, unless you can help your e-book find its audience. There are many tips for this that you can find online, such as using powerful keywords in your title and/or marketing. Be sure there's an audience for your book, too. If you have a sizable following on social media, you may be able to promote your book there.

There's a good chance that you know at least one or two things that someone might pay you to teach them. For example, you might teach a language such as Chinese or Spanish -- or English -- to people who want to learn it. If you're musical, you might offer voice, piano, or guitar lessons. There are people out there who would also love to learn woodworking, knitting, and more. Think about what you can teach and how you might find students. You might even be a tutor online, for high school students.

Here's an idea that many people haven't thought of doing, but which can be profitable: renting out space in your home -- or renting out your entire home, if you can stay away for a while. You might do this via Airbnb or Vrbo (which is owned by Expedia), and you can rent out your space for a few nights or a few weeks. This can be particularly profitable if your home is luxurious and/or if it's in a prime location, such as in a city or tourist destination. You might even take on a longer-term boarder, if you have a room to rent out.

ALSO READ: How to Rent Out a Room in Your Home

Every time you pass by a chair or chest of drawers that someone left on a curb, you might be passing up the chance to make some money. Some of these pieces of furniture might be taken to your garage, where you refinish them, photograph them, and then list them for sale online. You can even be more proactive about it, scouring neighborhoods and sale listings. You might buy an upholstered chair for $50, clean it up, and sell it for $150. If you can learn to identify valuable and popular styles of furniture, you can do particularly well.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
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!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

Another moneymaking option is to do freelance work on the side. This could be writing, editing, design, or any of a number of other kinds of work -- including legal work, programming, marketing, sales, illustration, and much more. There are many sites you could try out where freelancers can connect with those offering work. These include Freelancer, Guru, Upwork, PeoplePerHour, Aquent, SolidGigs, Fiverr, and Adobe's Behance.

This moneymaking strategy involves (or could involve) very little labor on your part: investing in dividend-paying stocks. Do so, and you can sit back and collect regular cash payments. If you have a stock portfolio worth $300,000 and your overall dividend yield on it is 3%, you're looking at $9,000 per year coming in -- and dividend payments tend to be increased over time, too. You can make it easy on yourself and go with one or more dividend-focused mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or you can expend more effort and choose some healthy and growing dividend-paying stocks on your own. (Or do both!)

ALSO READ: How to Invest in Dividend Stocks: A Guide to Dividend Investing

Want a relaxing way to boost your income? Become a dog walker and/or pet sitter. Many people seek trustworthy sorts to take care of Fluffy or Spot when they're away -- and some busy people need regular help every weekday, as they work long hours. Sites such as Rover and Wag! can connect walkers and owners, and some will vet walkers, too, for extra security. Some people need house sitters, who may also be charged with caring for pets. Find them at sites such as TrustedHousesitters, Housecarers, HouseSitter.com, and MindMyHouse.

Here's another fun way to earn more money: make and sell things online. Peruse sites such as Etsy, and you'll see a wide range of handmade items on sale, including knitting, jigsaw puzzles, headbands, candles, soaps, fragrances, paintings, photographs, fabrics, embroidery, cat toys, baby clothes, wedding invitation designs, ceramics, pillows, and much more. Think about what you might enjoy making and selling -- and what you're good at. You might even consider setting up your own online shop, which will take more work.

ALSO READ: Shopify vs. Etsy: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?

Finally, you might make money while decluttering your home. There are probably plenty of items in your attic, basement, garage, or storage unit that you no longer need, no longer use, or perhaps never used in the first place. Hold a yard sale or two, and those items could be turned into cash. You might also sell the items online, as long as you can ship them -- or list them with a "must pick up" condition.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
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!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

Clearly, there are gobs of possibilities when it comes to generating extra cash that could help pay for a vacation or, better still, be invested to help fund your retirement. Take some time to consider all the options that might work for you, and then try one or two that are most appealing. A little digging online can turn up scores more possibilities.

Selena Maranjian owns Fiverr International. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Airbnb, Inc., Etsy, and Fiverr International. The Motley Fool recommends Adobe Inc., Uber Technologies, and Upwork. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.