Make money sharing your stuff
From household items to sporting goods to vehicles, these smart women are bringing home some serious cash renting out their own things. Read on to learn how they do it!
“I make $400 a month loaning out my gear!”
I have five children, so over the years, I’ve acquired a lot of baby gear and household items that were filling up my garage. I wanted to find a way to put these things to good use, so when a friend told me about Loanables.com, a nationwide platform where you can rent out your belongings to others, I knew it would be an easy way to make some extra cash.
“To get started, I created an account and signed a waiver, which states that the renter is responsible for any item that’s returned broken or damaged. You can also request a security deposit or charge the value of the item if it does get damaged, but I’ve never had a problem with any of the items I rent. I then wrote descriptions, added photos and included prices. People who are visiting the area will rent out my bike trailer for $25 for the day or $75 for a week. I’ve also rented out electric toy cars, strollers, a slow cooker and a heat lamp. I get the most requests for my dog crate, which people need if they’re fostering a dog or to go pick up their new pet.
“When renters contact me, we agree on a time to meet and how the payment will be made, usually with PayPal, Venmo or cash. Some people who rent out their stuff leave their items outside of their homes to be picked up, but I like to be there because I find that this is a great way to meet new people in the community.
“Overall, it’s a fun and easy way to bring in extra money. And every time I go into my garage to get an item, I find more stuff to either rent or donate, so I don’t let things pile up. I make about $400 a month— money that pays for date nights!”