20 Ways to Make Extra Money and Supplement Your Income

Does it seem like your paycheck does not stretch like it used to? Do you put off car and home repairs because you do not have the cash? Or maybe you are paying off credit cards or saving for a down payment for your first home. Wouldn't a little extra income come in handy?

Here we are going to explore options of making money that you may not have thought of before. It is helpful to sit down, make a list of everything you love to do and are good at, what kinds of things that you like, what your hobbies are, and what type of personality you have. This list will help you discover what sort of moonlighting job would suit you. I am a firm believer that there is nothing wrong with hard work, but you should enjoy something about it, or it is not worth it. Life is too short.

Put your skills to work for you: Do you get compliments on your baking or cooking skills? Is it something you enjoy doing? Perhaps you could make money by preparing meals for busy families or by catering parties. If you enjoy woodworking, try your hand at building shelves, furniture or specialize in custom made work for others. There are people who would pay for your skills. If you are technically savvy, you could offer your services as a computer geek. Building web pages, understanding HTML, or just helping someone learn their way around a computer. Your customers will have you on speed dial before you know it. Other handy skills are writing, painting and remodeling, landscaping, sewing and crafts. Almost any hobby or interest can provide supplemental income if you open yourself up to the possibilities.

Elder Care: If you enjoy spending time with senior citizens, offer your services as a respite provider to an overwhelmed family. Adults who are full time caregivers need time away now and then, even if just for a few hours. Most are willing to pay a responsible person to care for their loved one in their absence. You could also run errands or take senior citizens to the bank or store.

Child Care: Another way to supplement your income is to offer babysitting services, tutoring, or birthday party planning services. If your schedule is flexible, and you have college credits, you can be employed as a substitute teacher. Check with local school districts to see what their requirements are. You might be surprised. Working with children requires a genuine love for kids and the ability to relate well to them. It also requires a LOT of patience.

Sell something you no longer want or need: Take a good look around you. Are there things that you have inherited that you simply do not like? Outgrown clothes? Furniture, toys? Almost everyone has things that are cluttering up their home, yard, basement, and garage. Check with your local resale shops. Some shops will buy your things from you. Others will take items on a consignment basis. If what you have is valuable, sell it on ebay or put an advertisement in the newspaper. If your area has a Craigslist, you can place an ad online for free. No fees, no shipping. Things that you should always try to resell instead of donate are large appliances and furniture in good shape, barely used children's toys and clothing, brand name adult clothing, game systems and games, sporting equipment, and musical instruments. Vintage and antique items are always in demand. Check ebay to see what your item is selling for.

Pet Care: Another way to make extra money is to walk dogs and/or pet sit. Our pets are like members of our family and they sometimes need extra care too.

House Sit: When people go out of town, they sometimes want to make sure that someone brings in the mail daily and waters the plants. Sometimes they want you to actually live in the house while they are gone. This can sometimes be combined with pet services.

Get a Paper Route: If you don't mind early morning hours, newspapers are always looking for people to take routes and deliver the newspaper. The pay varies, but it is worth looking into.

As I said before, look for ways to make extra money that takes into account your personality. Here are some more ideas based on personality types. If you:

Are Creative: Teach music, home staging and decorating, paint wall murals and store windows,
Like to Work With Your Hands: Gardening and landscaping, home repairs, wash and detail cars, house cleaning
Are Crafty: Floral arrangements and wreaths, scrapbooking, make birdhouses, candle making
Are a Workaholic: Work overtime at your full time job, use your job skills to moonlight as a freelance contractor

How to advertise that you are looking for the opportunity to earn more money? Put an ad in the newspaper or on Craigslist. Make up colorful, eye catching flyers to hang up and to hand out. Either make or buy business cards. It looks professional and it is a wise investment. Vistaprint is always running specials and they are reasonably priced. Tell everyone you know and everyone you meet that your skills are for hire. Word of mouth is usually the best advertisement.