These days, a single source of income may not be enough to cover all your financial goals and expenses. Whether you’re saving up for a big purchase or future trip, trying to pay down debt, adding a child to the family, or even considering going back to school, you may be looking to supplement your income in one way or another.
Plus, adding a little extra cushion to your budget probably won’t hurt. I remember when my husband was going back to school right before the pandemic. With help from a side gig, we were able to earn enough extra income to cover the cost of school and still make ends meet.
If you’re looking for a flexible way to supplement your income, there are many side hustles and gigs you can take on that allow you to work remotely from home. That way, you won’t have to worry about juggling fixed work hours with your likely already busy schedule.
Here are 14 of the best ways to start supplementing your income right now.
1. Take Surveys Online
Taking online surveys might not make you a millionaire, but it’s a simple and easy way to earn extra money to supplement your income. Survey sites like Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Qmee, and GAUGE Research offer paid surveys that you can take from your phone or computer. The more surveys you complete, the more you earn.
While the payouts for individual surveys can be small, they can quickly add up over time. Plus, many survey sites offer additional ways to earn, such as watching videos, signing up for offers, or playing games. To maximize your earnings, sign up for multiple survey sites and regularly check for new opportunities.
2. Part-Time Job From Home
Remote work often allows you to set your own hours and work at your own pace. This flexibility is perfect for balancing a full-time job or other responsibilities. Plus, you save time and money by not having to commute.
Remote part-time jobs range from customer service roles to virtual assistants or data entry positions. You can choose from the options that match your skills and interests to start earning extra money right away. Just keep in mind that you may not be able to work whenever you want, but you should try to find a shift that works for your availability.
Platforms like Remote.co and FlexJobs are great options to start with since these job board sites are geared toward work from home opportunities. But sometimes, you may need to do some extra research on your own, too. Check out companies that are popular for remote jobs, like Amazon, U-Haul, and Williams-Sonoma, and set up alerts for their careers page updates so you can apply for positions directly, too.
3. Sell Services on Fiverr or Upwork
If you have a skill or talent, consider monetizing it to supplement your income. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork connect freelancers with clients seeking services in different fields and categories like graphic design, writing, programming, and marketing.
Fiverr and Upwork allow you to build a profile showcasing your skills and experience, making it easy for potential clients to find you. When you sign up, you just list your services, set your rates, and promote your profile.
To succeed on these platforms, focus on building a strong profile and gathering positive reviews. Reviews are everything on Fiverr and Upwork. To get started, you may need to offer special discounts and complete services at a more competitive rate to attract more customers and gain experience. But you can soon start increasing your rates as your profile grows and you increase your skill set.
4. Rent Out Your Space with Airbnb
Do you have a spare room or an unused property? Renting it out on Airbnb can be a lucrative way to supplement your income. Airbnb is a popular platform, and millions of travelers use it worldwide.
So, if you have a spare room or basement and live in an area that is popular with travelers, you could earn some extra money as a host. With Airbnb, you can set your prices and availability when you create your listing. If you don’t want to rent it out on certain days, just block off those dates in the calendar.
Airbnb handles all the work, such as collecting payments, screening applicants, and more. If you’re considering signing up, you can even get an estimate of how much you can earn based on the size of the space and the area you’re in.
Another feature that can help you make money with Airbnb is the Experiences tab. Airbnb Experiences allows locals to host unique activities and experiences for travelers in their city. Whether it’s a cooking class, a guided tour, or an adventure activity, you can turn something you’re passionate about into extra cash by creating and hosting an experience.
5. Start a Blog
Blogs have been around for a long time, and starting a blog is still a great way to supplement your income if you have a clear strategy and some patience. You won’t make money as a blogger overnight, but there are still plenty of income streams you can launch with a successful blog.
Some people may tell you to focus on your passions and start blogging about them. But if you really want to create a blog that you can monetize, you should research popular topics first. See what people are interested in and which topics are easier to monetize.
For example, a blog about being a mom can be a great topic, but it’s a little broad, and your audience may not know what to expect. But if you homeschool your kids, you can focus the blog on that topic. Once you build your traffic, you can create digital products like ebooks, an online course on getting started with homeschooling, downloadable guides, or checklists to help parents.
Once you’ve built a following, you can monetize your blog in numerous ways, including advertising, using ad networks like Google AdSense and Raptive, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.
While building a successful blog takes time and effort, the potential rewards make it a worthwhile investment. If you’re able to earn money by integrating relevant ads on your website, you’ll earn passive income after putting in the work and effort up front.
6. Sell Products on Etsy
Etsy is a global marketplace for handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies, but it’s also a great place to sell digital products like printables, worksheets, stickers, and spreadsheet templates.
To start selling on Etsy, create a shop and list your products with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions. Pricing your items competitively while considering your materials and time is also important. Etsy charges a small fee for each listing and takes a percentage of your sales, so factor these costs into your pricing.
You can promote your shop through social media platforms, Etsy SEO, digital ad placements, and by engaging with your customers to build a loyal following.
If you want to be successful long-term on Etsy, be sure to provide excellent customer service and timely communication. The key is to set yourself apart and consistently improve your products and services.
7. Start Pet Sitting
If you’re an animal lover, pet sitting is a fun and rewarding way to supplement your income. Many pet owners need reliable caretakers while they’re away, and platforms like Rover and PetBacker make it easy to connect with clients in your area.
Pet sitting offers the flexibility to choose your schedule and the types of pets you’d like to care for. Whether you’re watching dogs, cats, or other animals, this side gig allows you to earn money while doing something you actually enjoy.
Before starting, ensure you’re comfortable with the responsibilities of pet sitting, which may include feeding, walking, and administering medication. Building trust with your clients and their pets is, too, so focus on providing excellent care and communication.
My family travels a few times per year, and we often work with a dog sitter from Rover. We like to set up a meet-and-greet before hiring someone to ensure our dog gets along with them first.
But we happily pay anywhere from $35 to $40 per night for pet sitting for her, and oftentimes, the sitter is watching another dog, too. So, if you just watch a few pets per month, you could easily earn an extra few hundred dollars or more per month, especially if you add additional services like dog walking.
8. Sell Your Crafts Online or at Fairs
If you’re creative or would like to be, selling crafts can be a great way to supplement your income. Stop by a few craft fairs in your area to see what people are selling or consider selling some items you already know how to make, whether it’s a custom door wreath, candles, soaps, custom t-shirts, or even sewing projects.
Your local farmers’ market is a great place to start selling your products. But don’t stop there. You can contact other nearby towns to see how much it would cost to set up a vendor booth. Most farmers’ markets are seasonal, but you may be able to find some that are year-round. You can also take advantage of fall and winter markets for the holiday shopping season.
9. Get a Gig Job
Delivering groceries and food is a common way to make extra money during your spare time because it’s easy and flexible, so you can go at your own pace. Apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats are the best options for delivering food from local restaurants to people who order from the app, while Instacart and Shipt are the top apps that will pay you to grocery shop for others.
I tried DoorDash when it first came out, and it was very easy to use. Once I signed up, I was able to log in at any time and see which nearby areas were in high demand for orders. Drivers can see a set rate for the pickup order before accepting it, and you get to keep all your tips. On the other hand, Instacart is a little more structured, where you have to sign up for shifts each week. Still, if you use these apps consistently, it can feel like you’re getting a regular paycheck from a steady job.
You typically get paid weekly, but there’s the option to cash out your earnings the same day for a small fee. Some food delivery jobs may offer bonuses where you can earn a higher rate depending on the demand in that area or if the customer chooses to pay an additional fee to get their order quicker. Just download whichever app you like and pass the required background check to get started.
10. Complete Short Tasks With InboxDollars
InboxDollars is still one of the best platforms to earn extra money by completing short tasks like taking surveys, watching videos, trying new apps, and playing games. This is a fun and easy way to monetize the time spent scrolling on your phone. While some similar sites reward you in points that you can redeem for a gift card to your favorite retailer, InboxDollars pays you in cash, so you can use your earnings however you want.
This is the type of supplemental income option that doesn’t require a ton of time or effort. While you may not make much, you could still earn some extra money for fun and entertainment or even enough to cover a small bill.
11. Promote Referral Programs
We refer products and services to friends and family all the time. But did you realize that you can actually get paid to do this? Don’t underestimate how referral programs from your favorite brands could earn you some extra money, free products, or both.
Start checking some of your favorite apps and websites to see if there’s a referral section where you can get your unique link to promote. Some referral programs pay a flat rate per sign-up or a lump sum if you’re able to successfully refer five friends, for example. Other programs even offer bonuses if you meet certain benchmarks. There are so many options, and you don’t need to have a website or brand to start earning money from referrals. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a list of some websites that have pretty good referral programs.
12. Participate in Market Research or Focus Groups
Focus groups are one of my favorite ways to earn extra cash. Basically, you can get paid for sharing your thoughts and opinions about various products and services. In the past, I’ve done focus groups covering topics like fast food, technology, and cleaning products.
Here’s how it works—Brands pay market research companies to find everyday people and pay them to sit in a group and share their honest opinions. This information then goes toward making the product or service even better for customers in the future.
While some focus group opportunities are held in person, there are plenty of online focus groups to apply for as well. Check out sites like Respondent, User Interviews, Mindswarms, and FocusGroup.com.
Focus groups can pay anywhere from $50 to $300+, but you do have to apply first, and there’s no guarantee you’ll be approved. Still, if you sign up for a few focus group websites, complete your profile, and check regularly, you’re bound to see something that you’re interested in and qualify for.
The key is to apply sooner rather than later. Try to apply as soon as you see something you’re interested in. Then, make sure your notifications are on so someone can call or text you for more information and to get you signed up.
13. Transcription Work
If you like to type, consider getting paid to transcribe video and audio files. Rev is a popular website that hires freelancers to work on different transcription products. While modern AI tools can do a lot of the transcription work that people once did by hand, a human element is still necessary to produce a high-quality finished product.
You can practice typing and increase your typing speed with free tests on TypingTest.com. To land paying transcription work, you’ll need to type quickly and accurately. The fewer mistakes you make in your transcript, the better. You can also narrow down your expertise to work in specific niches like legal transcription or medical transcription. These transcription job websites are all vetted and serve as a great starting point if you’re wondering where to look for paying gigs.
14. Get Paid to Do Laundry
Yes, you can get paid to do other people’s laundry. If you don’t mind washing and folding and have resources like transportation and access to a washer and dryer, you can make money easily this way. There are many user-friendly apps that connect you with clients looking to pay for laundry services. You will need to pick up their loads and return them when everything is cleaned, but some apps like Hampr provide a laundry carrier for you.
According to Hampr, you can earn up to $500 per week washing clothes part-time on your own schedule. You just need to meet these basic requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Valid U.S. driver’s license
- Be able to pass a background check
- Reliable vehicle
- Able to lift 20-30 pounds and able to climb stairs safely
- Smoke-free household
- Smartphone to stay connected with Hampr
- Standard-size washing machine
This is the perfect side gig if you’re looking for more work-life balance, since you can do other tasks around the house or even run errands while you’re doing laundry.
Supplement Your Income Wrapup
There are several ways to supplement your income, whether you’re looking to take a short-term approach with gig work or a long-term approach by building a blog or side business. Narrow down your needs and availability to determine how much you want to make each month and what a realistic schedule looks like for you.
Thanks to the gig economy, it’s easier than ever to bring in additional income in your spare time. Most of us can shave a few hours off our schedule if we cut down on television or social media, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up rest days and having fun. Just try to balance the time spent on your income sources and choose an option that interests you and that you think you’d do well at. Which idea would you start with to supplement your income?
