Posted By By Sienna Walker
Special to the Financial Independence Hub
Sharing is caring. Sharing something you own, sharing a little bit of your time, or sharing a skill you’ve cultivated can amount to a pretty decent payday. In fact, this is the very foundation of the sharing economy idea that has taken world by storm.
The best part about sharing economy gigs is that many of them are often easy. Since you set your own schedule and choose the way you participate, you can engage whenever you feel like it. If you want a boost to your income on your own terms, the sharing economy might be a perfect fit for you.
1.) Deliver Stuff
Sometimes, people want specific food, but for whatever reason, they can’t prepare it themselves or drive out to go get it. If you join an app as a delivery driver, it can become your job to drop fast food at someone’s doorstep. It’s as simple as that.
Most delivery jobs will score you a little money from the app company and a tip from the delivery recipient. If you limit yourself to your local area and make yourself available on the weekends when people might be a little too – ahem – tipsy to drive, you can make a decent amount of money for relatively little effort.
2.) Rent out stuff you aren’t using
You can rent out almost anything you aren’t currently using. People who only need something for the short term don’t want to purchase it: they don’t want to be stuck with it after it outlives its brief purpose.
You can rent bikes, skis, surfboards, cameras, or even clothes. Over time, you might even make more money than if you had chosen to sell the item. As long as it stays in relatively good condition, you can rent it indefinitely.
3.) Rent out your house while you’re away
You’re going on vacation for two or three weeks. That leaves your house vacant for an extended period of time. It’s just sitting there, not making you any money. Unless, of course, you rent it. A rental property calculator can help you determine how much you can realistically charge as a rental fee for your home.
If you have extra space even when you’re home or your trip is going to be short, you can use short term rental apps to help supplement your income.
4.) Drive people places
If you don’t mind driving, you can always sign up with a ride hailing service. You’re essentially making money from your driveway. Some people make enough money becoming a driver that they make it a full time job. Before you sign up, compare and contrast the differences between services to be sure you’re choosing the best one for you. Much like food delivery, ride hailing app drivers typically make great money on the weekends if their coverage area includes a lot of busy bars. Help people get home safe and make some extra cash.
5.) Sell stuff you don’t need
Community marketplaces have really caught on: even social media networks have created their own versions. You can sell almost anything you don’t want or need anymore. People often purchase clothing, furniture, housewares, musical instruments, power tools, and sporting equipment through community marketplaces. You might even find someone who has what you want and needs what you have, creating a one-for-one trade where no one spends a dime. It might take a little bit of work to photograph and list the goods, but it’s multitasking: you’re decluttering your home at the same time.
6.) Become a Freelancer
There’s a place in the freelance market for almost every skill. Do you enjoy writing? There are dozens – if not hundreds – of different entryways into writing in the freelance market. Coders, designers, and people with highly advanced areas of expertise are always welcome to become a part of the freelance world. The best part of becoming a freelancer is that you make your own hours and set your own rates. Work whenever you want for however much you choose to charge.
7.) Teach someone something
Are you a strong English teacher? Are you really good at knitting? Did you teach yourself to perfectly apply acrylic nails? Can you make a basil plant sprout up essentially over night? Would you consider yourself a guitar virtuoso? Plenty of people want to learn things from people who are great at them. Offering to tutor someone to develop your skill or talent can net you some big bucks. Granted, teaching is certainly not one of the laziest ways of earning additional money, but it won’t feel like work either, because you pass the knowledge about something you love and are very good at.
All of these sharing economy ideas will help you fetch some extra cash. If you find that the income is really helping, you might want to get even more involved! Sometimes, money motivates us to apply more effort and see more success.
Sienna Walker is an experienced finance and careers blogger, and an ex-tutor. Whenever not writing, she might be found online, participating in online discussions or trying out self-improvement courses. Privately, a huge fan of travelling and coffee.
