Are you looking to earn some extra cash? Whether you’re saving up for a big purchase such as a car or a holiday, or simply looking for some additional ways to make ends meet during these difficult times – we’ve got you covered.
From selling unwanted clutter online, to renting out unused space at home, we’ve come up with some valuable tips and ways to help you make extra money and boost your income.
1. Sell unwanted or unused items
Have you got clothes that you haven’t worn for over a year, or kitchen appliances that are sitting gathering dust? If the answer’s yes, then it’s probably time you decluttered your life – and decluttering doesn’t have to mean throwing things away.
If you have items that could still be useful to someone else, then why not sell them on eBay? It’s free to sell up to 20 items a month and you have the option of either selling your old treasure for a fixed price, or at an auctioned price (who knows what price your antique silverware might sell for) so why not give it a try?
There’s many different ways to sell your unwanted items and different websites are better depending on what you’re looking to sell. For example, If you’ve got some IKEA furniture that you no longer need, IKEA have a handy Buyback & Resell scheme, allowing you to sell your old furniture back to them in exchange for store credit. See more about the scheme here.
If it’s time for a clear out then read our full guide on How to make extra money from your clutter.
2. Rent out your belongings
If you have certain items you don’t want to get rid of but which aren’t being used much, you might want to think about renting them out.
For example, if you’ve got some power tools that you only use once in a blue moon, you could make some extra cash by renting them out to people in your local area who need them. Platforms like Fat llama allow people with tools or kit to hire it out, and it doesn’t just need to be power tools, you can rent out your sewing machine, projector, camera equipment, musical instruments and more. Fat Llama offers insurance cover on items up to £25,000, so you should be covered if you rent it out and something goes wrong, but of course, you’ll still need to feel comfortable handing these items over to a stranger.
Similarly, if you’ve some beautiful clothes or accessories that only make an appearance on very special occasions, you could rent them out to others on apps like By Rotation and Hurr Collective. Again, they do say that if something goes wrong and your item is damaged, that the renter will be responsible for paying for its replacement.
3. Rent out free space as storage
If you’ve got more space at home than you know what to do with, then it might be worth renting it out to someone who needs a safe place to store their things. The list of items that people may be looking to store is endless; anything from bikes, to boxes full of treasured mementos.
All you have to do is register your space (e.g. a loft, garage or spare room) on a website like Storemates, indicating the location, size and rental price of the space (usually on a monthly basis). People who are searching for a space in your area will then be able to send you messages of interest and you’ll get to decide who you want to rent it to.
Who’d have thought you could make money just by letting someone else leave their things in your empty garage? You can find other ways to make your property work for you in our article Five ways your home could make you money.
4. Make extra money by trading in old electronics
Many of us hold onto old laptops and mobile phones either out of nostalgia, or out of fear that we might need them as a back up if our new upgraded version stops working or breaks. But holding onto every old electronic device ever is a sure way to accumulate more clutter than you know what to do with.
Only allow yourself to keep one spare mobile phone and/or laptop if you feel you need to and trade in anything additional for extra money – you’ll be glad you did when you find yourself with more space and more money.
If you’re looking for somewhere to start then SellMyMobile.com offers a fast and easy mobile phone comparison service to ensure you’re getting the best deal on your old handset. You can find out more about selling unwanted electronics in our guide How to sell your old electronics.
5. Claim refunds for tube and train delays
Railway delays are all too common and they’ll cost you time and money – but it is possible that you might be able to claim a refund for each journey that’s affected.
You can get a full refund if your train journey is cancelled, and you will usually be eligible for compensation if your train arrives more than 30 minutes late (some train companies also offer this for a delay of 15 minutes or more).
You will need to keep your tickets and make a claim within 28 days of travel and the refund you receive will depend on which company you were travelling with and how delayed your journey was. You can find out more about how to get a refund on the website of the train company that you travel with on Find my train company on nationalrail.co.uk. Learn how you might be able to reduce the cost of train travel in our guide 10 ways to beat train price hikes.
6. Recycle old printer cartridges for cash
Rather than tossing those old printer cartridges away, why not collect them up and trade them in for money? All you have to do is sign up to a reputable website, arrange for someone to come and collect them, and wait for payment. It’s as simple as that. So the next time you go to throw your cartridges away, think of the money you could be making…
7. Make sure you're not overpaying tax
It’s important to check that you’re on the right tax code so that you don’t end up overpaying tax and being out of pocket, or underpaying tax and having to pay back hundreds, or even thousands of pounds. If you’re employed, you can find your tax code on your payslip. Learn more in our article What information is shown on a payslip?
If you’re overpaying tax then you could be entitled to a rebate. If you’ve been made redundant, or become unemployed midway through the year, then there’s a chance you will have overpaid tax (as it’s calculated assuming your earnings continue throughout the tax year).
A quick call to HMRC on 0300 200 3300 will tell you where you stand with your tax liabilities year to date and if you have overpaid, they should be able to provide you with a rebate. Alternatively, you can check online to see whether you’re on the correct tax code on the GOV.UK website.
8. Make money using websites and smartphone apps
Smartphone apps can provide a great way to make money on the go. It may sound too good to be true but there are plenty of free apps that will pay you to complete small tasks such as filling out surveys, taking pictures or watching videos! Some apps you can open up and use as and when you feel like it i.e. if you have a spare 5-10 minutes here and there, whilst others will pay you to perform tasks in specific circumstances.
Which apps can I try free?
- Citizen Me – get paid to fill out short personal surveys on topics such as your family set-up, your employment situation etc.
- Pocket Bounty – earn some extra money by downloading apps, taking surveys, entering competitions and watching videos.
- Zip Zero – take a photo of your receipts, answer short personal surveys and earn extra money.
Note: Many of these apps will make their money from the data you fill in during the surveys etc. Most will only ever use it anonymously but it’s always worth making sure you are fully comfortable with how they plan to use your data before you sign up.
9. Use cashback websites everytime you shop
TopCashback is one of the most popular cashback sites around. If you’re going to make a purchase online then try heading to one of these websites first and following the link to the company that you were going to make the transaction with. As long as the company is affiliated with the cashback site and you don’t use any unverified discount codes, you could receive cash back on your purchase.
Learn more about cashback websites in our guide Cashback websites: how to earn money when you shop online.
10. Apply for any benefits you're entitled to
Many people miss out on government benefits, simply because they’re unaware of their entitlement. The easiest way to find out whether you’re eligible to apply for financial support is to use an online benefits calculator, which will assess your individual circumstances. Find out more about benefits and the sort of help you may be entitled to in our Government benefits: the basics section.
11. Get paid to listen to music
Fancy getting paid to listen to music and give your opinion?
By signing up to Slicethepie, you could get paid to listen to and review music from a wide variety of unsigned artists. Your feedback will go directly to artists, record labels and brands to help them make important decisions about each track.
You won’t earn much to start with but the more you review, the better your scout rating will get, giving you the chance to increase your earnings.
12. Take in a lodger
Your spare room could be the key to your money troubles. If you wouldn’t mind sharing your space with someone else, then you could consider renting your spare room out to someone who needs it at an agreed weekly or monthly price. Having a lodger can not only help you earn extra money, but it’s also a great way to meet new people and make some new friends.
You could start by asking friends and family whether they know anyone who needs a room, or you might want to advertise your room online on trusted websites such as SpareRoom.com. Just make sure you get to know the person first and that you are always comfortable with who you’re inviting into your home. You can find out more about the pros and cons of letting out your spare room in our guide Renting out a room – What you need to know.
13. Pay off expensive debts before you start saving
It’s not uncommon for people to try and save money whilst they’re still in debt, but by doing this you could be simply throwing your money away. In most cases, debts come with a much higher interest rate than savings (the gap is how the banks make their money), so you’re better off paying off your debts first – and it will also be a weight off your mind once you’re debt-free.
Learn more about paying off your debts in our guide How to take control of your debts.
14. Switch your bank account
Banks are constantly vying for our business, and some pay handsome cash bonuses if you switch to them. If you aren’t committed to your current bank, then you could currently earn up to £175 each time you switch. You’ll find that most banks will have eligibility requirements to be able to earn the bonus. For example, they might ask that you deposit a certain amount of money each month, or that you set up a minimum number of direct debits, but for a lot of people, these requirements are part and parcel of their normal banking activities.
Switching is easier than ever, with the Current Account Switch Service, which will arrange your switch for you. The service will transfer your bank balance as well as any financial arrangements, such as direct debits or standing orders, and will organise closing your old account too. Once you’ve met the criteria for switching, there’s usually nothing stopping you from switching again, so you could earn multiple bonuses each year, but of course, make sure you check the fine print before you do anything.
First Direct, for example, is currently offering a £175 bonus if you switch your current account to its First Direct 1st Account. To get the switching bonus, you’ll need to open a 1st Account and then contact First Direct to begin the switching process. They’ll then use the Current Account Switch Service to move your balance and arrangements over, and once you’ve switched, you’ll need to deposit £1,000 within the first three months of opening the account. Find out more about current accounts and switching incentives in our guide Five of the best current accounts and switching incentives.
15. Boost your savings rate
Although interest rates on savings accounts have risen over the past couple of years, there is still a notable difference between the best and worst paying accounts on the market, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the best deal out there if you want to make your money work harder for you.
If you haven’t checked your savings rates in a long time, it’s definitely worth looking at as banks have a habit of enticing you in on market leading rates which then dwindle over time. Or if you are interested in opening a savings account but don’t know where to begin, we have a few articles outlining how different types of accounts work and listing some of the best options on the market, updated every week. For example, Best cash ISA rates – which cash ISAs pay the most interest? details the cash ISAs with the highest interest rates currently available. Fixed rate savings bonds explained and Best instant access savings accounts do the same with fixed rate bonds and instant access savings accounts respectively.
16. Make extra money by attending a focus group
Focus groups come together to share opinions through open discussions about new products and services. The responses are then studied by a company or organisation’s market researchers who are always looking for ways to improve their offerings. It can be quite fun to think that your opinions could help to shape the world that we live in. You will often be limited to attending a few a year, but could receive up to £160 for taking part in a single session.
Interested? Research Opinions and Paid Focus Group provide information about focus group opportunities across the country.
17. Become a TV extra
An interesting and varied way to make some extra money in your spare time is to work as a film or TV extra – which will allow you to see what really goes on behind the production lines. You’ll get to learn how film sets are run, meet people from all walks of life, and you may even end up staring in the background of your favourite TV soap. Casting agencies accept people of all ages to reflect real-life communities so you don’t need to look like a model to take part.
Try casting agencies like Phoenix Casting and Mad Dog 2020 if you’re interested.
18. Sell unwanted gift cards online
Have you got a myriad of unwanted gift cards left over from Christmas and birthdays for stores that you never really shop at? The good news is that you can exchange them for cash. Cardyard or Zapper will offer you a set price for each gift card that you register, which you’ll receive once you’ve sent them off.
19. Become a mystery shopper
If you enjoy shopping and dining out, but you want to hold onto the pennies, then why not consider becoming a mystery shopper?
Market research companies, watchdog organisations and/or manufacturers often hire mystery shoppers to test out products and services and provide feedback which can be used to make improvements. For example, you might be asked to go and purchase a specific product from a shop so you can review the customer service experience, or you might be asked to eat at a particular restaurant so you can rate the food.
Mystery shopping is a great little hobby that will get you out of the house, and give you a chance to earn some extra money! If you’re keen to find out more about how to get started, then you can do so with one of the mystery shopping services below.
20. Start a side hustle to earn extra money
Adopting a side hustle is a great way to test a business idea or explore something you’re passionate about, whilst getting paid. For example, you may decide that you want to write and publish your own books, set up an online shop where you can sell your own hand-crafted items or offer your photography skills.
Sound appealing? Our article Popular side hustle ideas that can help you make some extra money will give you some ideas that you could get started with today…
21. Enter competitions and earn extra money
Are you feeling lucky? Websites like Latest Free Stuff and Magic Freebies UK pull together a list of free competitions where prizes are still up for grabs. You have to be in it to win it, so why not give it a go? Find out more about entering competitions in our guide Competitions: how to find and win competitions.
22. Take part in research projects
There are plenty of scientific research studies or clinical trials that you could get involved in if you want to make extra money on a few one-off occasions.
Medical researchers and university students often need people of all ages to get involved in various different studies or projects and will typically offer a voucher or cash reward for your time.
Projects vary but can include investigations into things like how people eat and appreciate new foods or what the effects of a new drug are. As well as getting paid for your time, it can also be an interesting way to learn something new and get involved in science!
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in then you could try:
1. Getting in touch with your local university to find out whether they need participants for any scientific studies. To see an example of the types of offers a university might make, it’s worth having a look at these ones from the University of Bristol.
2. Signing up to a website like Trials 4 Us (which is the UK’s leading Clinical Research Organisation). Organisations like this will provide information on upcoming medical trials, and details on how to apply.
Note: it’s important to remember that some clinical trials can carry unknown health risks. Some will be about collecting benign research, whilst others could involve taking medicine that has not been licensed for public approval. As always, it’s worth making sure you are fully comfortable with what you’re signing up to before you commit to anything.
23. Get paid to taste food
Fancy putting your taste buds to good use by sampling new food and drink products? Could you provide feedback on these products so that their taste and quality can be improved?
Companies that work on delivering food quality and safety, like Campden BRI and People for Research regularly recruit participants to take part in food research that’s used to develop and improve food and drink products. Participants may meet several times a year or on a one-off occasion to complete taste tests and fill out online surveys from time to time. You could earn anywhere between £5 and £50 in cash or get shopping vouchers each time you take part.
24. Sign up to online survey sites
If you’ve got some free time on your hands, why not get paid for your opinion?
Online surveys can be about anything from cleaning products, to exercise and they’re a great way to top up your income from the comfort of your own home.
When you sign up to a survey website, you’ll usually receive an email notification each time a relevant survey becomes available. It’s completely up to you to pick and choose which ones you’re interested in, and you’ll always be informed of the payment amount before you begin answering. Why not give it a go? Your voice is waiting to be heard!
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