Posted By 
By Sarah Kearns
Special to the Financial Independence Hub
Do you want to earn a quick extra buck or two with items that are just lying around the house? How about making money off your handyman skills? And, oh, did you know that it’s also possible to earn extra money from your unused driveway space?
If you’re looking to earn some extra cash by running your own business right on your very own driveway, then you might want to consider these seven money-generating tips.
1.) Hold a garage sale
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of earning money from your driveway is the garage sale. Aside from earning a few hundred dollars, you also get to clean out the clutter in your home. A garage sale is also a good weekend family activity and is a great exercise to learn about the basics of entrepreneurship.
2.) Set up a concession stand
Remember those lemonade stands kids put up during summer break? You can set up a concession stand on your own driveway too! It’s even better if your street has lots of foot traffic. Of course, different countries, states, or territories have different laws regarding this; so, always check your local regulations first before you set up.
3.) Rent out your tools
If you have tools that are seldom used, you can rent them out to neighbors and contractors in your area for extra cash. There are websites like ToolMates that let you post your for-rent tools and equipment online. These services let you make some extra money off your tools; which is always better than letting these expensive items just gather dust in the shed.
4.) Start your own handyman business
Since we’re already on the topic of tools, you can also set up your own, independent, handyman business. If you have handyman (or handy woman!) skills like carpentry, ceiling repair, car maintenance, and such, then it might be good to put those skills into work and earn some extra money. Sites like AirTasker allow you to post your services online so that people in your area can get in touch with you whenever they need your skills.
5.) Share your car with neighbors
Now, this is a fairly new concept and companies like Lyft and Uber have taken this innovative idea to the next level. However, if you don’t like driving around that much, it’s also possible to rent out your car to your neighbors when you’re not using it. CarNextDoor is a service that allows neighbors to ‘share’ their cars with each other, thereby offsetting the cost of ownership.
6.) Pet sitting / walking
If you’re a pet-lover, pet sitting and walking are also great ways to earn extra money. The best thing about these pet-minding services is that you can run these from your own driveway or garage. Sites like MadPaws let you post your pet sitting/walking services so that neighbors who need their pets taken care of while they’re away can avail of your sitting services.
7.) Rent out your driveway
If you have some space on your driveway (or your driveway is unutilized entirely), you might be able to make serious cash off your unused driveway space. Sites like ParkHound let you list your driveway so that others can use it for temporary parking space. You can rent out your space for hours, days, or even months, and you dictate how much the rate is.
Final Thoughts
Aside from the usual business ideas like selling wares and offering services, technology today has empowered more people to earn extra income by putting businesses in the online sphere. More importantly though, today’s websites and apps have introduced new and innovative ways to make money off things that are underutilized : cars, tools, and even driveways! So, if you’re looking to earn some extra cash, it might be a good idea to sign up to the websites mentioned and start posting your items and services.
Sarah Kearns is a hard working mother of three daughters. She is a Senior Communications Manager for BizDb, an online resource with information about businesses in the UK. She loves cooking and reading, history books and writing about green living.
