You need extra money. But you don't have time for a second job. You don't want to drive for Uber at midnight. And you definitely don't want some complicated side hustle that takes months to pay off.
You just want some extra cash. Preferably without making your life harder.
Good news. There are real ways to make money that don't require you to quit your job or learn a whole new skill set.
Here are three you can start this week.
1. Sell Your Unused Stuff
Look around your house right now. You have things you don't use. Clothes that don't fit. Books you've already read. Kitchen gadgets still in the box. Old electronics sitting in a drawer.
That's money.
Where to Sell
Facebook Marketplace is free and local. No shipping. Just meet up and get cash.
Poshmark works great for clothes and shoes. Take some photos. List your items. Ship when they sell.
eBay is good for electronics, collectibles, and random stuff you're not sure about.
Mercari works for just about anything. Easy to use. Reasonable fees.
What Sells Fast
Brand name clothes in good condition. Especially if they're on trend or barely worn.
Electronics that still work. Old iPhones. Tablets. Gaming systems.
Furniture. People are always looking for cheap furniture. If you're getting rid of a desk or bookshelf, list it.
Books. Won't make you rich, but textbooks and popular titles sell.
Kids stuff. Toys, clothes, gear. Parents buy used because kids outgrow everything fast.
Make It Easy
Take clear photos in good lighting. Show any flaws so people know what they're getting.
Price things to sell. You're not running a store. You're clearing space and making money.
Be ready to negotiate a little. But don't go too low. Your stuff has value.
You could make a few hundred dollars this month just selling things you already own.
2. Sell Digital Products
This sounds fancy. It's not.
A digital product is anything people can download. An ebook. A template. A checklist. A printable planner. A guide.
You make it once. You sell it over and over. No inventory. No shipping.
What You Could Create
Budget templates. People love spreadsheets they don't have to build themselves.
Planners and organizers. Meal planners. Cleaning schedules. Goal trackers.
Guides or ebooks. How to do something you already know how to do. Recipes. Workout plans. Gardening tips.
Printable art or quotes. If you're decent with design, people buy prints for their walls.
Checklists. Moving checklists. Wedding planning checklists. Any kind of checklist people need.
Where to Sell
Etsy is the easiest place to start. Millions of people shop there for digital downloads.
Your own website if you have one. No fees. You keep all the money.
Gumroad is simple and takes a small cut. Good for ebooks and guides.
The Reality Check
Your first product might not sell much. That's okay. Make another one. Try different things. See what people actually want.
Price low at first. $3 to $10. Just get some sales and reviews.
It takes time to build. But once you have a few products listed, they can make money while you sleep.
3. Freelance What You Already Know
You have skills. Even if you don't think you do.
Can you write? Design? Edit photos? Manage social media? Do basic bookkeeping? Organize things? Help people with tech problems?
Someone will pay you for that.
Where to Find Work
Upwork and Fiverr are the big ones. Create a profile. List what you can do. Apply for jobs.
Facebook groups for freelancers in your area or your field.
Ask people you know. Your network is bigger than you think. Tell people what you're offering.
Local small businesses. They need help with websites, social media, bookkeeping. Walk in and ask.
What You Could Offer
Writing. Blog posts. Website copy. Product descriptions.
Social media management. Small businesses need someone to post for them.
Virtual assistant work. Email management. Scheduling. Research.
Graphic design. Logos. Social media graphics. Flyers.
Bookkeeping. If you're good with numbers and organized.
Tutoring. Whatever subject you're good at.
Pet sitting or house sitting. Not freelancing exactly, but it's flexible money.
Start Small
Don't quit your job. Join the one out of four Americans with side jobs, as of July 2025. Just take on one or two small projects.
Charge less at first to build reviews and experience. Then raise your rates.
Be reliable. Show up on time. Do what you said you'd do. That alone puts you ahead of a lot of freelancers.
Two More Quick Ideas
4. Rent Out What You Own
Got a parking space you don't use? Rent it out.
Extra room in your house? Rent it on Airbnb.
Camera equipment sitting around? Rent it on Fat Llama or similar sites.
You're not making new money. You're making money from things you already have.
5. Online Surveys and Apps
This won't make you rich. But it's easy money while you're watching TV.
Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, InboxDollars. Take surveys. Watch videos. Get paid.
Cashback apps like Rakuten and Ibotta. Get money back on stuff you already buy.
It's not big money. But $50 a month for almost no effort adds up.
Watch the Video Version
Pick One and Start
Don't try all of these at once. Pick the one that sounds easiest or most interesting.
Selling your stuff? Go find five things right now and list them.
Digital products? Brainstorm three things you could create this week.
Freelancing? Write down your skills and sign up for one platform today.
The hardest part is starting. Once you make your first $20, you'll see it's real. Then you keep going.
You don't need a perfect plan. You just need to start.
Which method are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments.
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