How to make extra money this year!
By Kelly Henderson (follow Kelly on Twitter @kellythekiwi)
(This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
Living in London can be tough and sometimes your pay packet just doesn’t stretch far enough. By the time you have paid your rent, bills, transport and bought food for the week there is nothing left. But don’t despair – there are plenty of ways for you to make a bit of extra money. Have a look at my list below to find my top 50 easy and legit ways to make extra money in London.
#1 | Complete surveys
If you’ve got a spare few minutes a day that you can spend on your computer then completing online surveys is a great way of making a little bit of pocket money. You’ll find a lot of sites online but Toluna and Swagbucks are the best ones to start with.
Try:
Find out more about online surveys.
#2 | Become a website or app tester
You can get paid just for testing out websites and apps. It’s pretty simple, all you need to do is use the site/app and then complete a series of tasks and speak your thoughts out loud as you go along. If you’re interested in this check out Usertesting as they are currently looking for testers from the UK.
Try:
User Testing How it works
#3 | Get cashback on shopping
If you like online shopping but haven’t been using a site like Top CashBack, Swagbucks, or Quidco then you are missing out on some serious cash. These websites offer you a reward just for going via their website to purchase goods/services.
Try:
Have a read of this post for more information.
#4 | Rent out your parking space
If you’re lucky enough to have a parking space but don’t own a car then you could earn extra cash by renting it out – especially if you live near offices, train stations or an airport. You can list your space and available dates for free on Justpark or on Stashbee (Stashbee is an especially good service as you can also rent out your spare storage or garage space through them) and then watch the cash build up in your bank account.
Try:
JustPark – How it works
#5 | Refer a Friend and Earn Money
There are lots of websites that let you sign up as a referee for services or products and get rewarded whenever you refer a friend. In most cases, if your friends register with them, you both get rewarded for doing so. Below I mention some examples:
- TransferWise – For every 3 invited friends who make a transfer over £200 you get £50
- TopCashback – Receive up to £7.50 free cashback when your friends earn their first £10 cashback
- Airbnb – you get from £15 to £55 in Airbnb credits for every friend you refer, while your friend also gets a free £30 coupon!
- giffgaff – earn cashback for every friend you refer
- Swagbucks – Get a $5 sign up bonus whenever you refer a friend and 10% of your friend’s earnings.
- Ocado – you can receive up to 20 vouchers
- Fiverr – Refer a friend and receive a $5 credit each
#6 | Get money for Googling
It is possible to earn money by just clicking on specific links. Just download an add-on called Qmee from its website and search as you normally would – it also works for Bing, Amazon, eBay and more – then click on one of the links on the left-hand side of the page. Companies have paid Qmee to appear in these ads and by clicking on the links you’ll get a share of the profits.
Try:
Pic: www.jlabucks.com
#7 | Sell your own recipes
If you consider yourself to be a bit of a whiz in the kitchen and enjoy creating crazy dishes for your family and friends, why not get paid to share your recipes with the general population? Submitting recipes to Student Eats is an easy way to earn money from home. They will pay £5 per recipe they posts on their website – yummy!
Try:
#8 | Matched betting
Although I wasn’t sure about matched betting to begin with (it sounds a bit dodgy!), it is a great way to make money quickly and easily. Matched betting is when you bet both for and against certain odds on two different sites – so you’re guaranteed to have a win. What makes it better is that you can often get free credit when you sign up to the betting sites. For example, if you bet £10 on William Hill you will get £20 free and if you bet €10 with Paddypower you’ll get €30 free.
Try:
- William Hill
- Paddypower
- MyBet
- yesbets.co.uk – matched betting made easy
Have a read of this post for a full guide and tips for staying safe.
William Hill Sign Up Bonus
#9 | Sell your university notes
If you don’t mind other students benefiting from your hard work then selling your notes is a great way to earn a bit of extra cash – there are even websites that will help you do this. Notesale allows you to upload your notes for free (although they might take a cut of the profit) and sell them to those students who haven’t been paying as much attention in class. From a quick browse today I can see notes for sale from as little as £1.50 to £50.
Try:
#10 | Sell your university textbooks
While you’re busy selling your notes you may as well sell the textbooks you won’t be using anymore as well. Try advertising on noticeboards on campus or asking at the university library. Failing that, you could try selling them online on websites like Uni list.
Try:
You can find some more ways to earn extra money as a student here.
#11 | Get crafty and sell on Etsy
This one probably isn’t for everyone – I definitely wouldn’t try and sell any of my ‘craft’ on Etsy but if you’re talented at designing jewellery or creating mosaic pieces then why not give people all over the world the chance to buy your work? There are small fees involved – a listing fee, a transaction fee and a payment processing fee – but these are really small in comparison to how much you can earn.
Try:
Check out our tips and tricks for selling your handmade items.
Open your own Etsy shop
#12 | Turn your love of music into money
I’ve met some real music lovers in my life (my brother being one of them) and I’ve just showed him the website SliceThePie. You can earn cash for reviewing unsigned artists and bands – the better your reviews, the more money you will earn – simple! Use the promo code: U2B9C7BF when you sign up.
Try:
- SliceThePie
#13 | Recycle your old mobile phone
I’ve finally upgraded my old iPhone 6S to a newer model and have been wondering what to do with it – it’s definitely not in great condition but it still works. Sites like Mazuma and compareandrecycle.co.uk will give you cash for your old mobile while if you like to sell your iPad you can use ipad-recycle.co.uk. Be careful though, the price quoted is dependent on the condition of the phone or the iPad so you may not actually receive the whole amount.
Try:
#14 | Sell your photographs
If you consider yourself a whizz photographer then you could earn money by selling your photographs to stock image sites like iStock or Fotolia. These are the photos that you see when you search anything on Google images so make sure you are okay with them being used for that first.
Try:
www.petapixel.com
#15 | Enter competitions and cross your fingers
I’ve gone through periods where I have been a real competition junky and I have had some alright wins – VIP tickets to Wimbledon, afternoon tea at the Marriott Hotel, a bottle of prosecco… Okay, so they haven’t been big cash prizes but you could sell any unwanted items on eBay. Find the best UK competition websites through this list and get better chances to win by following these great tips from money saving expert.
#16 | Rent out your bicycle, surfboard or skis
Spinlister is a platform that connects active people all around the world. You can list your gear – be it bike, surfboard, skis or snowboard – so that people can rent it when you’re not using it. It is an easy way to make a bit of extra cash as Spinlister doesn’t charge you for listing an item, just a small bit of commission when something is rented out.
Try:
- Spinlister
#17 | Sell your hair
If you have long, undamaged and uncoloured hair and you are ready for a drastic change then you could sell your hair for extra cash. Bloomsbury Wigs and Banbury Postiche are two of the UK’s most renowned hair merchants but you can also find wig makers on websites like Gumtree. I have written an article about how to sell your hair that you might want to read.
Try:
Pic taken by Hair Harvest’s FB page
#18 | Complete Gigs to earn a Fiverr
Fiverr is the world’s largest marketplace for selling/buying services. If you’ve got skills like data admin, translating, illustrating and much, much more then you could earn cash by completing Gigs. The going rate is $5 (hence the name) but you may be able to tack a couple of different tasks together or sell more than one block of time.
Try:
#19 | Take the dog for a walk
Okay, so you won’t earn money taking your own dog for a walk but if you are a dog-lover you could get paid to walk somebody else’s dog. Tailster is an online platform that links dog owners with trusted dog boarders, sitters and walkers in their local area. You don’t have to be a professional to advertise your services on Tailster, you just need to love dogs and be able to offer somewhere safe, clean and fun for doggy to stay.
Try:
#20 | Sell your unwanted clothing
If you have unwanted clothing that is just being used to take up space in your wardrobe then it might be time to sell it on. I have a friend who regularly sells and buys clothes on eBay so this is a good place to start. If it’s designer gear you are parting with then have a look at HEWI – it is free to list your clothes but you will be charged a 15% commission if they sell. Alternatively, Vinted accepts a far greater range of clothes.
Try:
#21 | Buy and sell domain names
I am thinking of creating my own blog but am struggling to think of a cool and creative domain name. If you’re the opposite of me and are good at coming up with names then purchase them on a site like Namecheap or 123Reg, park them and monitor the traffic they receive then sell them on.
Try:
#22 | Sell your CDs and DVDs
My boyfriend recently had a massive cull of all of his CDs and DVDs and decided to sell them to Music Magpie or Ziffit. It’s easy to do – download the app (turning your phone into a scanner), upload your items and box them up to be collected. Admittedly you’re not going to make your millions by doing this but it is a way of earning a little extra cash.
Try:
Find out more here.
Sell your CDs and DVDs
#23 | Switch your bank account
All of the banks want your money so some of them offer pretty good incentives for you to join them. Marks and Spencer offer a £100 gift card if you switch your Current Account to them whilst First Direct will award you with £100 straight into your account. Do your research though as this money isn’t completely free, there will be some conditions that need to be met. Find the best bank account switching offers.
#24 | Get paid to walk
As the proud owner of a Fitbit I am really interested in this next tip. If you connect it (or another activity tracker) to an app called Bounts you can earn cash, just for walking. Again, this isn’t going to make you millions but its easy money.
Try:
#25 | Watch and vote on online videos
If you’ve got some spare time then watching videos is a pretty chilled out way to earn freebies. Maximiles is a website that rewards you with points for doing simple things like watching short videos and filling in questionnaires. When you’ve earned a load of points you can spend them on rewards like magazine subscriptions, DVDs and homeware.
Try:
#26 | Write and publish a Kindle book
Take your love of a good story one step further and have your own Kindle book published. It’s really easy and quick to do it through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and you could earn up to 70% of the sales. A couple of tips – write something that is non-fiction and make sure you create a cover page that stands out from the rest.
#27 | Rent out your musical instruments or studio space
If you’ve got a guitar sitting in the corner of the room not being used or a studio space that you only use part time, you could earn some money from it by renting it out on Sparkplug. It’s free to list your items (although there is a small fee if you’re space/equipment is rented out) and you can charge a security deposit if you’re worried about any damage that may occur.
Try:
- Sparkplug
Sparkplug
#28 | Collect cans for cash
When we were kids my sister used to collect cans to earn a bit of pocket money. She collected so many that my Pop invented a special machine to help crush the cans easier. Unfortunately it wasn’t (and still isn’t) a big earner but aluminium is valuable and if you drink A LOT of soft drink you could earn a few extra coins. Have a look at Think Cans to see where the depots are near you.
#29 | Become a mystery shopper
Some people earn a lot of extra cash by becoming mystery shoppers, at worst you will just get loads of free goods. Most often you will be asked to write a report based on your shopping/dining experience. There will be really specific tasks that you need to complete so you make sure you get lots of details without being too obvious!
Try:
- Market Force
- ABA
- GFK
Have a read of this post to find out how to become a mystery shopper and make extra cash while shopping.
Pic: www.signatureworldwide.com
#30 | Join a customer rewards program
If you always do your shopping at one or two places then signing up to their loyalty programs could help keep some cash in your pocket. Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons all have their own loyalty programs and rewards vary from money-off vouchers or special prices on products to free coffees every time you shop. If you would like to save even more money on your food shopping have a read of this post.
#31 | Return your unwanted gifts
We’ve all been given presents that we don’t like or bought something and then changed our mind about it later. Why not return them to the shop instead of them gathering dust in your room or closet? If the items still have the tags on then you could be offered an exchange or credit note even if you don’t have the receipt.
#32 | Get paid for getting a round of drinks
Serve Legal hires 18-19 year olds to anonymously buy alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets (plus anything else you might need ID for) from pubs, supermarkets and other retailers. This is to make sure that you are being asked to show your identification. You will need to pay for the products with your own money so it is up to you how much you spend but you could get up to £10 per visit – not bad if you were planning on buying the items anyway.
Pic: www.morningadvertiser.co.uk
#33 | Rent out your house/flat as a film location
If you’ve got a space that you could imagine being the home of a TV family then list it on MyYour and start earning money from it. MyYour links potential location owners with TV, film and photography professionals without having to go through an expensive agency. It costs £3 a month for basic membership but you could earn a minimum of £250 a day if your house is chosen for a film or magazine editorial.
#34 | Appear as an extra on a TV show or feature film
If you fancy yourself the next Brad Pitt (“Partygoer/Preppie Guy at Fight” in Less Than Zero) or Megan Fox (dancing in a club in Bad Boys 2) then why not try to get a role as an extra? Basic rates for background actors start at £80 a day and if you’re lucky enough to get a speaking role that rate would double. Be careful to use legitimate agencies though.
Try:
#35 | Channel your inner Mary Poppins and babysit
Babysitting is a great way to earn a bit of pocket money… if you love kids that is! You could try asking to babysit for friends and family or advertise in your local area. It will pay to get a DBS (previously CRB) check as this will make you much more appealing to parents, and basic first aid training wouldn’t go a miss either. Find babysitting jobs in London
or via our job board.
#36 | Become a tour guide
If you’re passionate and knowledgeable about the city you live in and want to share what you know with tourists then becoming a tour guide could be the answer to your money worries. The hours can be pretty flexible so it’s a great job if you’ve got other commitments and hopefully you will get paid lots of tips! SANDEMANs New Europe are a well-known walking tour company who are always looking for guides.
#37 | Sell your stuff on eBay, Amazon or a neighbourhood forum
There are lots of ways to sell items that are cluttering up your home so it’s time for a spring clean! You could list your items on eBay for free and see how much money the auction goes up to (don’t forget there are sellers fees) or you could try and sell it on a local forum. When my boyfriend and I were living in East Dulwich we sold a lot of our items (and also got a lot of bargains) on the East Dulwich Forum.
Try:
Find out some useful tips for Selling on eBay and Amazon.
www.ebaysellingcoach.blogspot.com
#38 | Rent out a room on airbnb
If you or your housemate are going away for the summer then don’t leave the room empty, rent it out on airbnb (make sure to check with your other housemates and landlord first!). It’s a great way to earn an extra income and your space is protected by the Host Guarantee so you don’t have to worry about any accidental damage. It is free to list on airbnb but they will charge a small commission if your place is rented. Get a free £30 coupon for registering via BrokeinLondon
#39 | Get a TV License refund over the summer holidays
You may not know this but if you are a student who is going home for the summer then you could get a refund on your TV License. There is a condition though – you will need to make sure that you have 3 months in a row left on your license and you won’t need it again. This could put about £37 back into your pocket. Also check out how to avoid paying for a TV licence.
#40 | Become a life model
It doesn’t matter what kind of figure you have, if you don’t mind being naked (and I mean naked) and having artists study every bit of your body then you could register with Artists’ Models to be a life model. You’ll need to be able to be sit for hours at a time but the hourly rate is quite good, especially if you’re in London.
#41 | Become a Field Agent
Anyone with a Smart Phone can become a Field Agent just by downloading their app. You will then get sent tasks to do like taking photos of products in supermarkets, comparing prices and answering surveys. You could earn between £2 and £10 per assignment which can be cashed out into your PayPal account.
Try:
- Field Agent
- AppJobber
Find out more about micro jobbing apps.
Pic: www.therealisegroup.com.au
#42 | Start your own blog
If you’ve got a love for the written word and a passion for a particular subject then you could make money online by starting your own blog. You will need to be dedicated to it as a good blog requires a lot of time, patience and perseverance. There’s a few ways to make money from your blog but selling advertising spots is one of the easiest. To get started sign up to a website like Google AdSense or Media.net. Be warned though, you won’t start earning money from the ads until your page views are in the thousands.
#43 | Get work as a private tutor
Last year more than 40% of children in London had used the services of a private tutor and this trend isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. You don’t need an official accreditation to become a private tutor but you will need to have knowledge of the subject and a degree (or be in your final year of study). Not only is the work flexible but the pay rate is high and you get that warm fuzzy feeling when the child finally understands something they were struggling with. Have a read of this post if working as a private tutor sounds like the job for you.
#44 | Get paid for voicing your opinion
Everybody loves getting their voice heard so why not get paid for it by taking part in a focus group? Companies pay participants to give their opinions about absolutely anything – dental hygiene, business travel and wearing prescription glasses are all current projects for Research Opinions. The pay can vary from anywhere from £20-£100 per focus group.
#45 | Take part in clinical trials
This may sound a bit scary – I’m not so sure about it myself – but taking part in clinical trials can earn you some big money and help the advancement of medical research. There are different types of trials you can take part in like sleep studies, asthma and flu camps and drug trials. If this is something you would consider then have a read of this post for more information.
#46 | Register for the free postcode lottery
If you haven’t already done this you should do so right now. Just subscribe to the free postcode lottery website by entering your postcode and email address then check back at midday every day to see if you’re a winner. The prize pot begins at £150 but this jackpots if somebody doesn’t claim there prize.
#47 | Sell your childhood collectables
Oh I wish I had known this when I was younger! Once a toy stops getting produced the value of the toy goes up – makes sense right? That means that your old Polly Pockets, Ninja Turtles and Cabbage Patch Kids are worth a whole lot more now than they were when you were young. Have a raid of your parents place and see if you’ve got anything left behind… or just keep this in mind for when you have children of your own. Have a look through eBay to see their current value.
#48 | The secret of the Disney Vault
The Disney Studios carefully restrict the amount of classic release movies that are for sale at any time. For the other 8-10 years they are locked away in a ‘vault’ until they go on sale again. If you’re lucky enough to buy them at the normal retail price you could have a nice little cash earner when they go off sale again. I didn’t believe this at first but I have just seen Beauty and the Beast on Amazon for £98.95!
#49 | Sample products and talk to your friends about them
Sign up for Bazaarvoice and you will get to sample products before they’ve even hit the shelves. In exchange for this you need to talk about them (in a natural way) with your friends in real-life and on social media. There are lots of people already registered so you might not get picked straight away but when you do go nuts… the better you participate, the more things you’ll get to try.
#50 | Give Freebie trading a go
Have you heard the story about the guy who exchanged a large red paper clip and ended up with a house? Too good to be true right? Wrong! After one year and fourteen internet trades Canadian Kyle MacDonald ended up with a house in Kipling, Saskatchewan. If you’re thinking about this start small, if nothing else you will end up with a great story!
So now you know how to make extra money in 2017, why not try and save some too? Have a read of my top 50 money saving tips.
