Ideas to Make Extra Money at Home
- Selling off your unwanted home goods in a garage sale can earn you extra money.Marsel Van Oosten, Squiver/Photodisc/Getty Images
Most people could use an extra source of income to help pay bills, save for the future or take a vacation. There are many things you can do from home that will help you bring in extra money without taking away time from your primary job or costing much money upfront. - You can rent out an unused guest room in your home or convert an attic, garage or basement into living space and rent that out. Renting space in your home to a tenant can bring in extra money each month without taking up much of your time. However, be sure to check local laws and neighborhood association rules to make sure you can have multiple families under one roof. You will also want to check on average rental rates in your area to ensure you are charging the right amount.
- Blogs make money by renting ad space on the blog through programs such as Google Adwords or by selling affiliate products mentioned on the blog through retail sites like Amazon. You will need to put money up front to purchase web space and pay for a designer if you want a custom design. You could bring in a substantial income from your blog each month. However, not all blogs are successful and it may be several months before you build up enough readers to earn income from the blog.
- You can make extra money by selling your crafts. People will buy almost anything homemade, including clothing, home decor items, paintings, candles, jewelry and beauty products. You can sell your homemade items on online auction websites like Ebay, or websites that specialize in small retail sellers such as Etsy. Etsy allows sellers to create a homepage and market and sell their goods through the site for a percentage of the sales. If you do not have a lot of experience making homemade goods but are willing to learn, many craft stores offer free or cheap lessons. Michaels, a nationwide arts and crafts retailer, offers classes on scrapbooking, flower arrangements and more.
- Garage sales are an easy way to bring in a windfall of extra cash in one weekend and you likely have several items you no longer want or use sitting around your house. Gather up everything you want to get rid of, including clothing, furniture, home goods, electronics and toys, and price the items. You can buy blank price tags at any hobby store or make your own using masking tape. A day or two before the sale you may want to put up signs directing passing traffic to your house, or take out an ad in your local newspaper. On the morning of the sale, put the items outside and wait for the customers to arrive.
