Living on one salary is the norm for most of us, and if you’ve worked in a job for years it can feel pretty stable. But it really only takes a cancelled contract, a missed commission payment or a company restructure to put a dent in your finances. Even something smaller, like a few weeks off sick on statutory pay can make a gap that’s hard to fill. When you have another way of earning, you are not stuck scrambling to cover the same bills with less coming in so having a side hustle or some other ways to get income into your bank is no bad thing. And this day in age, it’s more accessible than ever to raise some extra money- it can actually be pretty fun and enjoyable too!
Look at what you already know
The easiest way to bring in extra money is to use skills you already have. If you’re good with spreadsheets, small businesses will pay to have theirs set up properly or kept up to date. If you’re confident with a camera, local estate agents and Airbnb hosts often need photos and will usually pay per property. This kind of work can often be done in evenings or weekends without a big upfront cost. Even tutoring GCSE subjects can bring in £20 to £40 an hour, which adds up quickly if you do a couple of sessions a week.
Products that keep selling
Some of the most time efficient side incomes come from things you only create once. That could be digital downloads like planners, recipes or training guides so if you have design knowledge then put it to use! Once you’ve designed them, they can be sold repeatedly with little extra effort apart from occasional updates. The same applies to stock photos, printable art, or patterns for crafts. It might take a few weeks to get enough products made and listed, but once they’re out there, they can tick along while you focus on other work. If you use a platform like Etsy they do take a chunk of what you earn, but it does also make it simple. Every time someone buys your product your money goes into your account and there’s no website hosting or promotion that you need to do.
Making use of space or equipment
If you have a driveway in a busy area, you can rent it out to commuters or event goers. In some towns that can mean £100 or more each month for something that requires almost no effort once it is listed. Spare rooms, garages, or even sheds can be rented as storage. Tools, kitchen appliances, or photography gear can be hired out locally using peer to peer rental apps. It works best when you keep it to people nearby so you are not dealing with postage or delivery.
When life throws you a curveball
Extra income is always going to matter most when something happens that you couldn’t of planned for. A car accident, for example, can leave you unable to work for weeks or even months. The costs can mount quickly between repairs, medical bills and lost earnings. In that kind of situation, having a second income stream helps bridge the gap while you recover, you’ll want to work with an experienced car accident lawyer to make sure you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Think short and long term
Some ideas bring in money quickly, like selling items online or taking on small jobs locally. Others take longer but can grow steadily, like investments that pay dividends or a digital shop that gains regular customers. When you have a mix of the two, you can cover immediate needs while also building something that could replace a bigger chunk of your income in the future.
