One of the parts of my next book that I’m especially excited about is that I’ll not just be sharing how to start earning some additional income, but will be giving you a plethora of ideas of businesses you could start or ways to earn additional income.
I have put together a long list of ideas that I’ll be sharing in the book, but I’m positively certain that you all have some great ideas I’ve not thought of or wouldn’t come up with on my own.
So, I’d love to hear: What are your most creative income-earning ideas? I’d love to hear your input of things you’ve done successfully, know others who have done successfully, or just think would be a brilliant idea for someone to do. I’m especially looking for ideas that don’t require a significant amount of money to start.
Share your ideas in the comments or email them to me (crystal @ moneysavingmom.com). Thanks so much!
Note: Comments left on this post or emailed in may be published in the book. If you’d prefer that we don’t publish your comment or email or that it’s anonymous, please mention this in your comment or email.
Marie Hickman says
So many working moms need someone to drive their older child to a lesson, or a doctor’s appointment. When I was a WAHM, that is exactly what I did. I dog sat in my home and drove neighborhood kids to day camp, karate, the orthodontist, whatever. Now that I work in an office, I have the same needs. However, I’ve learned to barter: A dear friend gets my son breakfast and out the door in the mornings (he walks to middle school across the street); I do her social media and dog-sit for her occasionally. We work out a fair trade. A single dad friend whose son I drove to karate for a year so he could go to massage therapy school now pays me back in therapeutic massages.
Bethany says
I dog sit for family and friends who want someone staying in their home with their dogs while they’re gone/checking mail/deterring burglars. There’s always a good bit of back and forth to my house, which is the only overhear since I know that costs in gas $$, but they usually pay me $50 for a weekend or $100 for a week, which is pretty nice for getting a mini-vacation to someone else’s clean house for a week or weekend, getting to play with dogs (I don’t have a yard and miss having dogs around) and getting to use their A/C, water, washing machine etc. for a week. Often they’ll also say to help myself to food in the house as well (though I try not to take too much advantage of that).
Eva says
I would like information about making jewelry, please . Sounds like something I would enjoy.
Jennifer says
I had absolutely no idea there were so many ways to make money. I’m really impressed with the ingenuity of all the commenters…
Michelle says
As a teenager we sold night crawlers to fishermen. Just water the lawn and go out after dark with a flashlight and catch them. We made several 1000 a summer and only had to pay for batteries.
Megan says
I do swagbucks and participate on several survey sites. I earn more every year than the previous year. This year, I’m on target to make around $900 this year. My best thing so far was earlier this year. I was sent two bras to test, which I got to keep, and earned $7 for doing it. I have also tested shampoo, conditioner, and more. So not only earning money, but I am also saving money by not having to buy these products for awhile!
Anna says
My friend babysat for a lady. That is not very original in itself. BUT the lady was a doctor who only worked one week a month. My friend homeschooled and she was still able to keep the doctor’s 2 kids in her own home so she could still homeschool. The hours were crazy- early am to evening. But it was only 7 days and paid about $1200. I thought it was an amazing scenario because the doctor really wanted to be a stay-at-home mom too just like her but wanted the part-time work.
Petra Harpak says
When I was a stay at home mom of 3, my husband & I would foster a kid(s) & would receive around $4-5,000 a month. This would help out in purchasing groceries, clothes, & gas. It is tax free & you wouldn’t have to report it to the IRS. I also used to crochet baby booties & sell them for $15 and people around here in Alaska would buy them. I also would hold garage sales and earned extra income & once made over $400 in 4 hours.
Crystal says
I make jewelry for a company that sells to a well known catalog. I am given all the tools and supplies and can do it on my time, usually nap time and after my kids are in bed. I have deadlines, but they are pretty generous and I have never come close to missing a deadline. I am paid by the piece, and depending on how efficient I am, I make between $15-$30 an hour.
Jocelyn says
Is the company you work for hiring? I love the idea of making jewelry as a means to supplement the family income.
Amannda Parks says
We live in a college town, so we are renting out our house for ONE football game this year and it will almost pay our entire mortgage for the month.
Jennifer Allen says
My income earning idea is literally “creative”. I come from a family of artists and have always drawn and painted from a young age, but always considered it a hobby.
After I got married, and had children, we decided I would quit my high salary job at a hospital software company to stay home with our boys. (Best decision ever, btw).
After pricing some oil portraits, and the huge sticker shock, I decided I could certainly paint a portrait of my boys myself. After showing the artwork to friends, and everyone wanting one or some sort of artwork, my new business was born. I could work at home, on my own time, and supplemented my husband’s income for years painting portraits, then landscapes, abstracts, decorator pieces, whatever people wanted. It is a huge blessing to be able to use a God-given talent to glorify Him and also earn some extra income for our family.
Melinda says
I did online tutoring for a company called Brainfuse for 3 years. I made my own schedule and if I ever needed to cancel a session, I could sub it out the same day. I have also sold items on Ebay for 7 years. I mostly sell children and infant clothing that I find at thrift stores and at garage sales.
Amelia W. says
My husband and I are avid garage sale shoppers. We usually just shop for used kids clothes, inexpensive books or toys. This somehow led us to our own flipping business. We buy good quality used items that we know are worth way more than what they are selling it for. For example, we buy sets of tires for $40 then put them on Craigslist for $100-$150. We bought a rototiller for $350 and sold it the next day on Craigslist for $600. We have flipped tires, lawnmowers, garden tillers, dining sets, bikes, table saws, chainsaws, wheelbarrows and so much more. Most of these items require little fixing if any. Each summer we probably make conservatively $3000-$4000.
Marie Hickman says
I have done that, too, Amanda, buying at garage sales and selling through FB community garage sale sites. If you know the value of what you’re selling, it’s a great way to make extra money!
Cathy says
I am a proofreader for court reporters-I proofread depositions and trial testimony for them and get paid around 25 cents a page. I average $500-$1200 a month just reading stuff (sometimes boring!) every day. If you have good proofreading skills and are willing to look things up if it looks weird, call or email some court reporting firms in your area and see if they will send you a sample to try-if you’re good, you will get lots of work and reporters will refer you to their friends who need help. You can also contact publishing companies for proofreading manuscripts, although I haven’t had much luck in that area!
Abby says
I list posters, projects, and activities that I make for my high school classroom on TeachersPayTeachers.com. It usually only provides $10-$20 each month, but with school starting back, I’ll make $70+ in August. My favorite thing about TpT is that I just have to post lessons and materials that I’ve already created, then sit and wait for them to be purchased.
I also occasionally write freelance articles for TextBroker.com. Again, it isn’t a huge amount of money, but I can do as much as I want, when I want.
Jessica says
I would suggest that you look at your local community and see what makes it unique and maybe you can find a way to earn income in your town that you might not be able to make somewhere else. I live in a small Dutch community which has a large Tulip Festival every spring. Every grade school child needs a Dutch costume for walking in the parades, as well as many adults. I have recently started sewing these costumes for those who need them. In this case advertising on a local Facebook for sale group has provided me more opportunities than I can currently take with 3 young children. It has been fun and I love having a little extra spending money.
Lisa says
Amazon Mechanical Turk is a great place to make some extra side money. I started doing it in July and so far I’ve made around $400 from it. There is a reddit forum called hits worth turking for that posts all the best paying and quickest hits. I try to complete all the hits that get posted there. I rarely search on my own for hits. They deposit money directly in your bank account or amazon account. It’s been great!
Tina says
Can you give more information on this job? I am interested in trying to pick up a few dollars for Christmas.
Michelle says
mturk.com I did this when I was doing contract work, between contracts. Some are super easy, some are more of a pain.
http://www.reddit.com/r/HITsWorthTurkingFor would be the link for the reddit thread that was mentioned, although I claim little knowledge about this thread.
The way it works is fairly simple…If you qualify for a task, you can select to do it. Once you’ve completed it, you submit for approval. The person who set up the task must approve it before you get paid. If you didn’t follow the instructions, they can reject it, and you won’t get any money for it. My recommendation is to make sure you only do tasks you’re sure you can complete! Some of them are based on your HIT approval rating, which usually needs to be 95% or better. If you’re not finishing hits or finishing them correctly, it will impact your rating, making it harder going forward.
Hope that helps!
Jessica says
I crocheted anatomical models for lactation consultants. While I was a graduate student, I had a few gigs as a “model” for nurse practitioner students who needed to learn how to do pelvic exams and Pap smears.
Crystal Paine says
Wow! Now that’s definitely what I call “creative” and thinking outside the box!
Jessica says
Yep! I got paid and I got a free well woman exam. As a newlywed with no health insurance, it was a much-needed perk!