47 Creative Ways to Supplement Your Income

You don’t have to be receiving social security benefits to supplement your income. Try these creative side hustles and gigs for additional money.

What does supplementing income mean? Basically, it’s any additional income or extra money you make outside your primary income source (i.e., a full-time job).

Whether you plan to cover expenses, pay off debt, build an emergency fund having a side gig with your full-time job can help you live financially well.

I’m a big fan of side gigs to help fuel my financial independence. Increasing income is limitless compared to reducing expenses.

Want to get connected to a list of side gigs? We’ve partnered with Steady. They have over 2 million users, and “helped members like you earn an average of $338 extra income per month. In total, that is over $40 million per month.” Read our Steady review or download the Steady app and see all gigs available to you.

Now let’s go over how you can make extra cash and grow your income streams.

In this list, I am including side hustles I’ve done myself, including completing surveys, driving for Amazon Flex, building furniture, and other freelance opportunities like writing and design to supplement my income.

1. Blog about your ideas and passions

Starting a blog is simple. To earn money, however, you’ll need to host your own website. There are two hosting providers I’ve used and recommend. Bluehost (at $2.95/mo plus a free domain for a year) is a good option if you’re starting. Currently, I use Siteground. They are a bit more expensive (at $4.99/mo), but I absolutely love the hosting service. Get the details in starting a money-making blog here.

2. Deliver food to hungry people

Doordash helps you earn money by delivering food from any participating restaurant. Other services include Postmates and Instacart. Through meal deliveries, you earn a base delivery and can receive tips. Maximize your earnings and use multiple delivery service apps. Also, you get to decide when and how much you want to work. You’re an independent contractor.

3. Complete errands and tasks

Use your skills and help others complete tasks such as assembling Ikea furniture (yes, that’s a thing), putting up picture frames, moving furniture, and work from home opportunities like data entry and research. Do as many errands and tasks as you can fit in a day for more cash. The best app to use is TaskRabbit.

4. Drive other people

Drive people to the places they need to go to make extra money. Uber and Lyft are the two main companies with millions of users. A friend makes $1500 extra a month, and the income is helping pay off his student loans faster. 

5. Deliver packages and groceries

If you aren’t the type to want anyone in your car, then delivering packages and groceries is a good option. Depending on the location you live in, Amazon Flex is one of the better gigs. Other companies include Instacart and Shipt.

6. Rent your car to others

Did you know a car sits idle 75% of the time? Why not make money renting your cars to others. And the great thing is it doesn’t even need to be a luxury vehicle. With Turo or GetAround, you can easily list your car. Both are marketplaces that connect owners with drivers. Now, higher-end luxury cars will help you earn more, but a good solid SUV or minivan can be a moneymaker. 

7. Dog walk or pet sit

Love dogs and cats? An app connects you with pet parents who need help walking or sitting their pet babies. It’s possible to earn $30 for a 20-minute walk. Rover is a leader in the industry and can connect you to owners looking for someone to take care of their furry family members. You can walk, board, and play with pets. This can be a good recurring source of income for dog and cat lovers.

8. Design logos and short videos

If you’re artistic or technically savvy, you can help entrepreneurs and influencers by offering your service on sites like Fiverr. With Fiverr, you can create offers and set your price tiers. The marketplace has grown steadily and is a robust ecosystem. All you have to do is create your listing and wait for the jobs to come your way.

9. Create an experience for travelers

Airbnb isn’t just about hosting travelers. You can also share your city with travelers by creating one-of-a-kind experiences. A buddy hosts coffee experiences around his town and loves how he’s met so many awesome people and gets paid to do so. Think about your favorite restaurant or spots that only locals know. Is there an awesome viewpoint for sunsets? Create an experience.

10. Write articles as a freelancer

This is one of my favorite gigs. If you enjoy writing, many places are looking for content writers. And you don’t have to be a professional writer. Typically, your pay is dependent on your skill level and can increase with time. Sites like Textbroker, a marketplace connecting publishers with writers, make it easy to find writing gigs, so you don’t have to wonder where to them.

11. Fix resumes for the job seeker

Years ago, I offered this gig to friends and was paid $50 to write and edit resumes. Now, I realize that’s on the low end, and you can certainly make more. The best place to start is posting on social media like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Offer your service to review resumes and LinkedIn profiles. If you don’t want to do that, you can also create a listing on Fiverr.

12. Teach English or a foreign language

Many people are looking to practice their English speaking skills. And there is an app that’ll help you earn cash for helping. You can find job listings on Rosetta Stone and iTalki. These two sites connect you with people from all over the world trying to learn new languages. You can set up your schedule and, with only a few hours per week, can turn your language skills into money.

13. Make YouTube videos and tutorials

Have something to say but aren’t a natural writer? YouTube can be your place to shine and earn money. Millions of people watch YouTube videos for entertainment and troubleshooting. So, if you know how to fix things or have a general interest in a subject, start a YouTube channel. Share your knowledge in a video and make money through ads, sponsorships, or selling a service to your viewers. You can start by using your smartphone. Then, upgrade if it’s something you want to continue doing. Check out my Amazon store for the tools I use. 

14. Do store audits

Yes, you can make money doing store audits. Walk into a retail store, walk around, snap photos and leave. Sometimes it requires talking with employees as part of a customer service audit, but those pay a bit more. My go-to is FieldAgent, with its many opportunities and easy-to-use app. You can also find more ways in our list of best secret shopper apps.

15. Be a mystery shopper

Another way to supplement income is with mystery shopping which involves a bit more work than audits. You’ll be required to interact with employees and maybe eat meals at restaurants. Then, you’ll need to provide a comprehensive review of your experience. Payments often include reimbursements for expenses along with the mystery shop payment. Learn more about mystery shopping here.

16. Be a tutor to a college or high school student

Use your knowledge and tutor students for additional cash. As a Tutor, you help students who are having trouble understanding a subject. It can be in English, math, science, or needs assistance with basic study skills. You can help students by breaking down a lesson into something they can easily understand. A great place to start is Chegg, where they connect students of all ages from elementary to college.

17. Rent your space

Don’t let that empty bedroom go unused. You can offer short-term rentals of your unused spaces to a person looking for unique accommodation. The most popular marketplace is Airbnb. With Airbnb, you can rent your home, second bedroom, or spare room to travelers seeking a more home feel during their travels. You can even decide to offer an Airbnb Experience at an additional cost too.

18. Offer your professional services

Enjoy crunching numbers? Like spreadsheets? Do you know how to fix a leaking sink or unclog a drain? Join TaskRabbit and Thumbtack that helps you find local gigs that suit your profession. Using these marketplaces also removes the need to ask for payment since it’s done for you within the app.

19. Be a virtual assistant

Many entrepreneurs and small business owners need virtual assistants to help with emails, research, and general activities. If you’re detail-oriented and enjoy supporting professionals, then becoming a virtual assistant is a good option. VAs can offer a multitude of services from social media management to Pinterest help to media inquiries. You can find VA jobs through Upwork.

20. Clean other people’s homes

Another way to supplement income is through cleaning homes. Many people need assistance with everyday chores like doing laundry and cleaning. Make extra cash in your free time and use marketplaces like TaskRabbit to help you find cleaning gigs in your area.

21. Babysit children

You can help a parent in need of a babysitter. Ask around and get referrals. Or, if you’d like, consider applying to Care.com, a service that vets babysitters and connects you with gigs. These can be one-time or recurring opportunities. 

22. Help seniors

And if babysitting isn’t something you’d like to do, consider helping seniors around their house or running errands for them. Care.com is the site to get you started in being an on-demand paid caregiver. 

23. Sell designs on t-shirts, hats, and mugs

Do you have a mantra or a design you think would look great on a shirt? You don’t need to carry inventory in your home. Services like Printful offer on-demand customized print stores. Essentially, you can offer products to customers with your designs printed on many things, from mugs to t-shirts to pillows to tote bags.

24. Sell your handmade craft or unique artwork

For the types who have a talent for creating custom, handcrafted and unique items, then Etsy can be the place to make extra cash. My sister-in-law makes thousands of dollars selling handcrafted crotched items through Etsy. Maybe you know calligraphy or can scorch wooden planks to look like the ocean has battered them. There’s a market waiting for your handicraft. Get creative and make products.

25. Design printables and spreadsheets

Make money designing printables which are documents that people can download and print for themselves. You can create printables for just about anything from budget templates to posters. Canva is a great and powerful tool. It’s free to use too. Additionally, if you’re a pro on Google Sheets or Excel, you can sell your well-designed digital sheet to others. Etsy, again, is the place to be.

26. Become an instructor

Many people want to learn specific skills. With Udemy, you can teach an online course on any subject with a dedicated community of learners.

27. Create and sell an online course

Teachable makes it easy for you to share your knowledge with others through a compelling online platform. Share your knowledge and make a recurring income. If you plan to make money blogging, then offering a course can help increase your revenues.

28. Write and self-publish a book

Self-publish your novel and sell directly on Amazon. I self-published a crowdfunding book a few years ago. It still passively makes me a few dollars per month. Learn the ins and outs of self-publishing here.

29. Sell an ebook

If selling on Amazon seems too complicated, you can create an ebook which is basically a PDF document. What you have in your ebook is up to you, and you can set prices for it and sell it directly to people as a download. Many people use Canva to design their ebook and Gumroad as the sales page.

30. Start a podcast

It might take time for you to earn money with a podcast, so get started now. Podcasters make money through ads and sponsorships. You can use free services like Anchor.fm to get your podcast streaming in no time. You can easily use the mic on your phone or laptop. If not, consider getting one of these: Samson microphone. It’s what we use for clear audio on our podcast.

31. Sell your smartphone photos

Make money off your photos. Foap marketplace knows smartphones have come a long way in taking great photos. You can earn money selling your photos taken from your iOS or Android smartphones.

32. License your professional photos

Take those professional photos and license your work for use by others. Start making money with your photos through Shutterstock.

33. Cash through a clinical trial

Adventurous type? Join a study and make money from pharmaceutical companies conducting human drug trials. Check the website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

34. Donate your plasma

Find a plasma center near you and make money donating your plasma for medical use to treat some rare diseases. How much you make depends on various factors, but it’s reported that one donation can fetch a hundred dollars. And there’s a bigger benefit; your plasma donation can help others through their medical conditions. Check the website: www.DonatingPlasma.org.

35. Rent your recreational vehicle and boat

Recreational vehicles are expensive assets to own due to maintenance. What if you can have it make money for you when not in use? Rent your boat or RV to supplement your income. Your options include Boatsetter and Outdoorsy.

36. Complete online surveys

Supplement your income with paid online surveys. The reality is you won’t make a lot of money, but you will make something. I’ve earned a total of $400 through these online survey companies.

Your options for legitimate paid surveys are InboxDollars, Swagbucks, and Dabbl. Get smarter doing online surveys and use multiple companies and stack the earnings. Also, use a different email address, so you’re not bombarded with reminders. Read the list of the best paid online surveys.

37. Rent your driveway or parking spot

Yup, you can make money renting your parking space or driveway. This is best for people who live in downtown areas or prime locations near stadiums and event venues. SpotHero enables you to list your space, and they’ll manage it all for you.

38. Fund the loans of others

You can supplement income by being a lender. Basically, you will crowdfund loans made to borrowers who use sites like Prosper. It’s a good way to diversify your investments but comes with risks such as the borrower not repaying the loan. One thing to understand is that you won’t be funding the entire amount of a borrower’s loan. You’ll be part of a group of investors. 

39. Start a private membership

People want to connect even more so today on subjects and interests. More services allow you to make connections and monetize them. For example, you can start a Discord group on Marvel movies and charge your members a monthly fee. I’ve seen membership sites for every interest you can imagine and monthly sub fees from $5 to $100. 

40. Start an activity group

Do you have a fondness for SciFi movies or outdoor hikes? Start a group on Meetup and create paid activities.

The following are other ways to supplement income but aren’t recurring sources. 

41. Sell your used clothes and items

Poshmark is a good place to sell designer clothes, accessories, and shoes to shoppers who want your unique style. You can also sell non-luxury items on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and OfferUp. My sister-in-law sells my nieces used baby and toddler clothes and helped start a savings fund for them. Learn more ways to sell used clothes online.

42. Sell old books and DVDs

Amazon has been a solid place to sell my library’s worth of books. However, if you want the books and other media out of the home, use a service like Decluttr. They buy your used tech, books, and DVDs. This approach keeps you from having to post and respond to buyers.

43. Sell your smartphone and old tech

Sell your used smartphone through Gazelle or an online marketplace. Don’t let your old iPhone collect dust. There is a market for people who want to save money that often means you’ll get to tap the stored value of your tech gear such as tablets, cameras, monitors, and more.  

The following are ways to decrease your expenses and keep more money in your pockets. Now, that’s a creative way to supplement income.  

44. Use cashback shopping portals

When shopping online, you should spend the least amount of money by using cashback shopping portals. My favorite is Rakuten which offers a Chrome extension.   

45. Scan your grocery receipts

Get money back from your grocery shopping. The two must-use apps are Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. These are simple apps to scan your receipts and get cash back. And if you refer family and friends, you’ll earn money too.  

46. Get cashback from gas purchases

Now, you can also get money back from your gasoline purchase. GetUpside helps you find the cheapest gas in your area. Scan your receipt to earn your cashback.

47. Start bank bonus hacking

Recently, I urged my parents to diversify their income streams. They enjoyed doing bank account opening bonus hacks. In fact, they’ve made $1000 extra money in just 3 months. There are many ways to hack the bonuses, and they can be found with a google search or visiting our Promotions section. 

Other Ideas to Supplement Your Income

Any person can benefit and turn their assets into supplemental income, whether time, skills, or goods.  

Check our financial marketplace for additional money-making opportunities. You’ll be able to search, filter, and choose the right platform for you.  

Have any other ideas to supplement your income?