7 Ways to make extra money this January

The festive season comes with plenty of fun for the whole family. Unfortunately, when you combine the expense of gifts and food, with rising energy prices, your bank account can start to feel a little bare by the time the new year rolls around. If over-indulging over Christmas has left you feeling nervous about your savings, or you’re simply struggling to make ends meet, then it could be a good time to start thinking about some of the ways you can make more money in January.

Thanks to the internet, and the changing nature of the “gig market” for jobs, there are plenty of ways to make extra cash without doing a great deal of work. Here are just seven of our favourite ways to earn cash this month.

1. Take Some Surveys

You might not earn your millions by taking surveys online, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a fantastic way to get some extra cash. While you will need to be careful about the sites you use, there are plenty of great companies who are happy to give you money for your insights.

Take your time to research some of the best survey companies on the web today, then you can use the moments where you’re just sitting in front of the television to make some extra money wherever you are.

2. Rent Out Your Driveway

If you live in a space where parking areas are limited, and you’re lucky enough to have your own driveway, you could always charge people to use it. New apps and websites can connect drivers with nearby places where they can leave their car if there are no available public spaces in sight.

You can choose how much you charge (though we recommend keeping the numbers reasonable), and you can also decide whether the money goes straight to your bank account, or into PayPal.

3. Sell Things You Don’t Want

Now that Christmas is over, the chances are that you’re left with a few gifts you could probably do without. If you know you’re not going to insult anyone by selling their presents online, this could be a great way to make some money. All you need to do to get started is sign up for an eBay account and check out the price your item is going for. It’s better than simply letting the things you don’t want gather dust when the tree goes back in the attic.

4. Become a Pet-Sitter

If you love animals, and you don’t mind doing a bit of traveling, then life as a pet sitter could be an ideal opportunity for you. Families who need to leave their pets at home when they’re going on vacation are happy to pay people who can provide safe comfort and attention to their furry friends in their absence. Pet sitting is a lot of fun, and you don’t need to give up your day job to do it!

5. Sell your Skills

Now that we’re living in a more virtually-connected world, there are countless opportunities for people who want to sell their skills online. If you’ve got some expertise in website design, or you can build a great graphic, then you can make some extra money on the side by selling your knowledge on freelancer websites. You’ll need to define what you’re good at in advance, and remember that you might not get a great income straight away – at least until you’ve started to prove just how much you’re worth.

6. Transcribe Conferences and Meetings

If you’re good at listening to conversations, and you’re quick at typing, then you should be able to earn some extra money transcribing conferences for important companies. There are plenty of transcription websites that allow freelancers to sign up for free and get alerts to their email inbox whenever a job becomes available. Usually, these websites pay somewhere in the region of £0.20 an hour, but it depends on where you look.

7. Get Creative

Finally, if you’re looking for a new hobby and a way to make money at the same time, then you could always invest in your own creative mini-business. With websites like Etsy, it’s easy to sell niche items that you’ve made yourself. If you’re lucky, you could even discover that the products you create end up going viral and generating interest from a huge collection of people. You might not be able to give up your day job straight away, but you could eventually build a strong small business.

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