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Looking for side hustles for extra money on the weekend? We’ve put together our 11 favorite ideas for earning extra money in a weekend without a ton of effort. Try out these 11 money-making ideas for yourself and let us know your final dollar tally!
1. Sell items you no longer use or want.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Selling your unused or unwanted things not only makes you money, but it can also feel good to declutter your home! There are so many resources, both online and locally, to help you sell your items. For example, list furniture on Facebook Marketplace or take your old formal dresses to a local consignment shop. Here are a few more websites we love for selling used items.
2. Sell or exchange gift cards.
If you have gift cards laying around that you know you’ll never use – time to sell or exchange them! Then you’ll either have cash in your pocket, or a card to a store you love. Try an online site like GiftCardGranny or use Target’s trade-in program. Participating locations will accept other store gift cards with a minimum $20 balance and exchange it for a Target gift card.
3. Check if you have unclaimed funds in your name.
Does the government have unclaimed money that belongs to you? These funds could be unpaid back wages, pensions, insurance, or tax refunds. USA.gov does a great job of detailing all of the possible locations of your unpaid funds and how to search each database.
4. Check referral programs on stores and services you use.
Are there any stores or programs you use and love? Check to see if they have referral programs! You could earn money or gifts just by sharing what you love with your family and friends. ReferralCandy shared a list of 74 popular referral programs, but it’s also worth investigating the small businesses you use (Hint: like your credit union).
5. Use eBates to shop.
Planning to shop this weekend? Earn extra cash back on those purchases when you visit eBates first. eBates gets kickbacks from retailers for sending shoppers to their sites. They pass along these bonuses with you once you make a purchase! To make it even easier, use their web browser plugin so they notify you when you are on a site that offers cash back.
6. Take some surveys.
If you have some time to kill this weekend, consider filling out online surveys. Many sites will pay you in cash or gift cards for completing surveys. NerdWallet took the time to review some popular sites like SwagBucks and InboxDollars so you know which option will give you the most bang for your buck.
7. Rent out your RV, your car or a room in your home.
If you aren’t using your RV or car this weekend, rent it to someone who will! Turn those depreciating assets into cold hard cash. If you have a spare bedroom and don’t mind having guests in your house, rent out the bedroom as well. You can pick and choose when to make all of these items available to renters so it’s convenient for you. Here are some websites that make it easy.
8. Drive for a ride share service.
Prefer to be the driver of your own vehicle? Instead of renting it out, chauffer your peers around town this weekend. There are multiple ride share apps that make it possible to earn money in your own car.
9. Provide simple tasks around town.
Sometimes people just need some help assembling furniture, mowing the lawn, or painting a room. You can be their helper when you sign up for a site like TaskRabbit. Choose the jobs and rates you’ll accept on the weekend.
10. Babysit or pet-sit this weekend.
While other parents are getting out of the house this weekend to spend some money, you can make money by providing these valuable services to them. If you enjoy kids and/or pets, this side-gig could be a perfect fit!
11. Test websites and apps.
Many websites and app developers will pay real people to navigate through their site or app. Companies like UserTesting connect those professionals with people like you. You simply sign up to be a tester, complete a series of tasks while voicing your thoughts, and get paid $10 for 20 minutes of work. You can spare 20 minutes this weekend!
Bonus tip: Maybe instead of selling, spend less.
We live in a culture that often emphasizes quantity over quality. But more isn’t always better. Instead of focusing on making more money this weekend with a side hustle, perhaps evaluate ways you can spend less money in the first place. Simplifying your life and only focusing on items and expenses that are truly important to you can work wonders! If you want to learn how to spend less money, fill out our monthly budget template and try one or more of these 11 money-saving hacks.
How do you bring in more money each weekend? Do you have any tips for either earning more with a side hustle or spending less? Let us know in the comments!
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