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10 Practical Ways to Make Extra Money Working from Home

An individual sitting in the driver seat showing the passenger his phone.

We can all use some extra cash. But we don't necessarily have the time or energy to take on another on-site job. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make extra money with freelance work and "side hustles" you can do from home.

We're leaving out some of the ways to make extra money that commonly appear on lists like these that pay pennies or are too irregular. That includes things like taking online surveys, using websites and apps that pay for certain small tasks and participating in focus groups or clinical research studies. The ideas on our list can actually provide real income on a regular, reliable basis.

So, take a look and see which of these suggestions are appealing to you. When you decide on one or more, do a little research online about them to figure out the best ways to get started.

How to Earn Extra Money from Home

  1. Start a dog-walking and pet-sitting business in your neighborhood. Arrange to walk a few people's dogs at the same time, and you can make decent cash in a short period.
  1. Or, if you prefer human kids to furry, four-legged creatures, offer babysitting services. Create a profile on Care.com and get a CPR certification for more opportunities.
  1. Provide personal assistant services like running errands and grocery shopping. You can also be a virtual assistant, responding to emails, making travel plans, researching, etc. There are more overwhelmed, busy people willing to pay for this than you might expect.
  1. Start a lawn care and yard work business. Services like mowing lawns, trimming hedges, weeding gardens, raking leaves, and shoveling snow are always in demand.
  1. Give music lessons if you're skilled in an instrument. Kids and grownups alike are interested in learning new instruments.
  1. Become a driver for Uber, Lyft, or both. You can also deliver food through Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash, and similar services. If you're going to start using your car more, brush up on these tips for saving money on gas.
  1. Sell your original photos online if you have a high-quality camera and a good eye. It's easy to do on websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Alamy, Fotomoto, and others.
  1. Sell art, crafts, clothing, photos, or other creative materials you make on Etsy.
  1. Try your hand at freelance writing for company blogs or other outlets if you're a skilled writer. A Google search for "freelance writing jobs" brings up lots of places to find gigs.
  1. Manage social media for local businesses. This typically involves posting content, responding to people, and helping grow their followings. Many small businesses don't have the budget to hire a full-time employee or marketing agency but can work with an independent contractor.