20 ways to make money this summer...
HERE ARE SOME NICE LITTLE EARNERS WHETHER YOU’RE ADULTS OR CHILDREN, SAYS HARVEY JONES
IT’S summertime and the living is as easy as it can be during a pandemic… unless you’re short of cash, that is.
Here are 20 ways you could make a little extra dosh this summer – and the kids could be nice little earners too.
1. EARN WHILE YOU SIT
Getting paid for sitting around may sound like the perfect job, but involves more effort than you think.
You can find jobs looking after people’s homes or pets through housesitters.co.uk, homesitters. co.uk, pawshake.co.uk or barkingmad.uk.com.
2. PUT YOUR CAR TO WORK
If your motor is idling on the driveway, why not let somebody borrow it – for a price, of course?
Car sharing platforms such as hiyacar.co.uk, uk.getaround.com or turo.com let you make money from renting out your car to other people.
3. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE WORLD
If you’ve something to say, you might be able to make money from it, too. You could start a blog on your hobbies or interests and monetise it through sponsored posts, affiliated links and advertisements as you build a following.
Successful podcasters make on average £954 a month, making it one of the most lucrative side hustles of all, according to research from finance firm 118 118 Money.
Blogging can bring in £646 a month, and writing e-books on hobbies like cooking, health and fitness, or photography around £517.
But be warned, building a following could take time.
4. HAVE SPACE? MAKE MONEY
Rent out your driveway for cash. It helps if you live near an airport, train station, football ground, concert venue or city centre.
Check out justpark.com, parklet. co.uk, yourparkingspace.co.uk or parkonmydrive.com.
Or rent space in your loft, garage or shed through storemates.co.uk.
5. TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A HOLIDAY HOME
You could earn hundreds of pounds a week by renting out your home to holidaymakers when you’re not using it, says Karen Mullins, regional director at holiday rental specialists vrbo.com. “Check out who’s renting in your area to assess demand and what to charge,” she says. “Take good photos, decide your policy on pets, and provide guests with basics from tea and coffee to washing-up liquid and toilet rolls.” Offering free wi-fi and TV streaming services is a big draw too. And holiday rental sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo are just waiting for you to join up. “With staycations on the rise, demand for holiday rentals is at an all-time high,” Karen says. 6. It’s always a good time to have a clear-out – and now you could make money from it too.
From second-hand furniture to preloved clothes, stick them on eBay, Amazon, depop.com, shpock.com, webuybooks. co.uk or local Facebook groups. You might be surprised by what people will buy, says Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy, money management specialist at Barclays. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”
Alternatively, hit a car boot sale through nationalcarbootsales.co.uk or carbootjunction.com.
SELL YOUR OLD CLOTHES
7. If you enjoy crafts such as making pottery, jewellery, gift cards, jams, sauces or cakes, you could sell your wares through sites such as etsy. com or redbubble.com or at local markets and pop-up stores. Learn more at craftsy.com.
Nineties jewellery and crocheted clothes are in huge demand right now, says Zainab.
“People are happy to invest in personalised, original designs from small business owners.”
PUT YOUR SKILLS TO WORK 8. RECYCLE OLD TECH FOR CASH
Britons have 35 million old mobiles stashed away, which would be worth more than £1bn if they were all sold or traded in, says Uswitch.
Owners get £285 on average for a pre-owned but fully working iPhone X on eBay, or £220 on musicmagpie.co.uk and £180 at Carphone Warehouse. Mobile network providers offer trade-ins but the returns are lower, with EE offering £164 and Three £162. Top-range
Apple handsets hold value best.
9. GET IN THE SWIM
If you’re a strong swimmer, try finding work as a lifeguard, suggests Jasmine Birtles, founder of moneymagpie.co.uk
“It’s a serious job but can be lots of fun.”
Check out rlss.org. uk to find out how to get a National Pool Lifeguard qualification. Then contact your local leisure centre, private health clubs, big hotels or holiday centres.
10. GET OUTDOORS AND HELP BRITAIN’S HARVEST
If you can take a bit of backbreaking work, there are loads of fruit picking jobs. See britishsummerfruits.co.uk/ jobs. And farm shops often need people too.
11. LOOK FOR FESTIVAL WORK
It’s festival season again, and Jasmine suggests applying to work as casual staff at events such as Bestival, Creamfields or the Isle of Wight.
12. HANDY WAY TO EARN
If you’re good at heavy lifting, know how to wield a paintbrush, mount a TV or assemble flat-pack furniture, there are people needing help via sites such as taskrabbit.co.uk, fiverr. com, freelancer.com or upwork. com. Teaching, accountancy, computing, plumbing, hairdressing and other skills are also in demand.
13. 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. See qmee. com, swagbucks.com, populuslive. com and gifthunterclub.com.
14. PART-TIME OPTIONS
There is a host of part-time jobs out there, from shop and bar work to delivering Amazon orders, or doing supermarket shifts.
15. GO DIRECT
Direct selling is one of the oldest and most popular side hustles of all. The sector includes some of the UK’s best-known brands, including Avon, The Body Shop at Home, Usborne Books and Neal’s Yard Remedies Organics. More than 600,000 work this way in their spare time, earning on average £481 per month.
Find out more from the Direct Selling Association at dsa.org.uk.
16. A FLIPPING HOT OPPORTUNITY
The demand for inflatable hot tubs has skyrocketed, giving an opportunity for fast thinking entrepreneurs says money influencer Jordan Green.
“You can find hot tubs when they restock from shops like Aldi for £350 and resell them online for up to £500. You might even find used ones on Facebook marketplace or Gumtree, and flip them for a profit.”
17. TAKE IN A LODGER
If there is a room in your house you’re not using, you could make money by taking in a lodger.
Under the government rent-aroom scheme, you can earn up to £7,500 a year without paying tax on your income. Advertise locally or on sites like Airbnb and booking.com.
18. STUDENT SITE TEACHES US ALL A THING OR TWO
Website savethestudent.org highlights a world of opportunity, including reviewing websites at usertesting.com or slicethepie.com, entering competitions, being a TV or film extra, selling old CDs, games and movies, working as a charity collector, and if you’re feeling brave, nude life modelling.
19. DON’T BREAK THE RULES
If running a business from home, check if you need permission from your landlord, mortgage lender,
local planning officer or council.
You can earn up to £1,000 a year free of tax – but once you top that, you may have to register for self-assessment and declare your income to HMRC.
If you handle food, check if you need to meet safety measures at food.gov.uk and consider food hygiene training.
20. KIDS CAN MAKE CASH TOO!
The summer holidays are a great opportunity for children to earn some money.
Will Carmichael, founder of children’s money app RoosterMoney, says running a lemonade stand is an old idea that still has fizz.
“You need warm weather, an old table, a nice looking jug, disposable cups and lots of lemons and sugar,” he says.
“Or go out washing cars and clean up. A few fresh sponges and a bucket of soap water should get you motoring.
“Older kids could add some shine with a high-pressure washer and wax.”
Build up your savings pot by making jam, Will suggests.
“Look for public land filled with blackberry bushes, or visit a pick-your-own farm for ripe soft fruit. Make homemade labels with details including your name and where the fruit came from and when it was made to boost sales.” Another option is to walk friends or neighbours pets or feed their fish.
Chris Muller, of website Money Under 30, suggests tech savvy youngsters sell old toys or books on eBay.
“Also ask neighbours if they need any chores doing. Find out about delivering newspapers or flyers too.”
Louise Hill, co-founder of kids’ money app gohenry.co. uk, says youngsters are finding ever more inventive ways to make money. “We’ve seen kids really harness their entrepreneurial spirit. But remember to tell your parents what you’re doing.”