We’ve all heard the old adage that you have to spend money to make money. While that may be true in a business sense, on a personal level, there is a lot of money to be made without spending any more than a few dollars—if that! So if you have an event or situation around the corner and need some extra cash to help get you through it, here are three ideas to bring in a little extra money without spending extra money.
Sell Your Belongings
Unless you live as a complete minimalist, you likely have at least a few items around your home that you could sell for a profit. Whether it’s clothes you don’t wear anymore, toys your kids no longer play with, or something you haven’t used in years, there’s probably someone in your area that could find use in your belongings. Another great idea is to go through your self-storage unit or garage and search through the items you truly haven’t seen in awhile. Either post them on an Internet sales website or hold an impromptu yard sale to get your items in front of people willing to pay you money to take your stuff off your hands.
Use Your Car
If you have your own vehicle, there are a lot of options for bringing in a few extra dollars. Especially in large metropolitan areas, more people than ever are using ride-sharing services to get from point A to point B. To take advantage of this money making opportunity, Nancy Mann Jackson, a contributor for DailyWorth.com, recommends getting involved in websites or apps that link up drivers with passengers. When you have some downtime, spend a few hours chauffeuring passengers around your area and see the money start trickling in.
Participate in A Focus Group
For those who either don’t have a car or don’t want to part with any of their belongings, there is always the option to get paid for merely your time and opinions. Participating in a focus group or other form of study is a great way to collect some extra cash without having to give away anything of your own.
To find opportunities to be involved in focus groups or studies, consultant Jennifer Martin tells Geoff Williams, a contributor for U.S. News and World Report, that a good place to start looking is on websites like Craigslist. There are also other websites like FindFocusGroups.com that can give you information about paid focus groups in your area. These events are usually run by businesses looking to get the opinions of consumers, so be prepared to share your thoughts.
Bringing in some additional income doesn’t have to be a large financial sacrifice upfront. Use the tips mentioned above to take in some extra money without having to spend money you don’t have in the first place.
