Reader's Digest - 10 ways to earn income on the side

Posted on 2 July, 2019

As incomes get squeezed and the idea of a job for life dies out, growing numbers are making ends meet by earning a little bit on the side. You can pocket up to £1,000 a year free of tax, unless already self-employed, but will need to complete a self assessment tax return for HM Revenue & Customs once your income exceeds that. Here are some suggestions for unleashing your inner entrepreneur…

Sell online

Two thirds of side hustlers sell goods such as second-hand furniture or clothing, either at car boot sales, or through websites and apps such as eBay.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk, Depop.com and Shpock.com.

Have a good clear out and sell your stuff on MusicMagpie.com, Webuybooks.co.uk or local Facebook groups.

Use your skills

If you enjoy crafts such as making pottery, jewellery, gift cards, jams, sauces or cakes, you might be able to sell them through sites such as Etsy.com or Redbubble.com or at local markets or pop-up stores. Learn more at Craftsy.com.

Perform tasks

Those with handyman or heavy lifting skills, or who know how to wield a paintbrush, mount a TV or assemble flat-pack furniture could find people needing help via sites such as Taskrabbit.co.uk and Fiverr.com.

Keep on working

If looking to retire don’t waste a working lifetime of skills and contacts, offer them on a consultancy basis rather than as a wage slave.

Teaching, accountancy, computing, plumbing, hairdressing and other skills are in demand. Freelancer.com or Upwork.com may help.

Sitting and earning

Getting paid for sitting around may the perfect job, but involves more effort than you think.

Find jobs looking after people’s homes or pets throughs Housesitters.co.uk and Homesitters.co.uk, or Pawshake.co.uk, Barkingmad.uk.com and Animalangels.co.uk.

Click and collect

Earn cash or vouchers by completing short online tasks such as filling in surveys, doing polls, watching videos, reading adverts and even just searching on Google.

Check out Swagbucks.com, Qmee.com, i-Say.com, Populuslive.com and Gifthunterclub.com, or download app Streetspotr.

Rent it out

Rent out space on your driveway for cash. It helps if you live near an airport, train station, football ground, concert venue or city centre. Check out JustPark, Parklet.co.uk, Yourparkingspace.co.uk or Parkonmydrive.com.

Or rent space in your loft, garage or shed through Storemates.co.uk.

Childminding

Love kids or have childcare experience? You may be able to earn money from looking after other people’s little ones, through sites such as Childcare.co.uk or Sitters.co.uk.

Room service

Make money by renting out a room or property on Airbnb, and earn £1,000 free of tax on top of your £1,000 tax allowance.

Alternatively, earn up to £7,500 free of tax by taking in a lodger under the Rent a Room scheme.

Part-time options

There are a host of more part-time jobs out there, such as shop and bar work, delivering Amazon orders, doing supermarket shifts, monitoring school exams, counting votes at elections, or even being a TV extra.

Hustle on!

To read the original Reader's Digest story, please click here.

To find out more on becoming a homesitter, please click here or call us on 01296 630 730.

To apply to become a homesitter, please click here or call us on 01296 630 730.

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