These days, having one stream of income may not be enough to meet all your financial goals and expenses. Whether you’re saving up for a big purchase or future trip, trying to pay down debt, adding a child to the family, or even considering going back to school, you may be looking to supplement your income in one way or another.
Plus, adding a little extra cushion to your budget probably won’t hurt. I remember when my husband was going back to school right before the pandemic. With help from a side gig, we were able to earn enough extra income to cash flow the cost of school and still make ends meet.
If you’re looking for a flexible way to supplement your income, there are many side hustles and gigs you can take on that allow you to work remotely from home. That way, you won’t have to worry about juggling fixed work hours with your likely already busy schedule.
Here are 7 of the best ways to start supplementing your income right now.
1. Take Surveys Online
Taking online surveys might not make you a millionaire, but it’s a simple and easy way to earn extra money to supplement your income. Survey sites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and GAUGE Research offer paid surveys that you can take from your phone or computer. The more surveys you complete, the more you earn.
While the payouts for individual surveys can be small, they can quickly add up over time. Plus, many survey sites offer additional ways to earn, such as watching videos, signing up for offers, or playing games. To maximize your earnings, sign up for multiple survey sites and regularly check for new opportunities.
You can even step things up a notch and apply for focus groups, which are in-person or online conversations with a brand or research company where you share your honest opinions about a service or product. In the past, I’ve done focus groups covering topics like fast food, technology, and cleaning products. Check out sites like FocusGroup.com, User Interviews, and Mindswarms. Many of these sites now offer online focus groups, so you don’t have to leave your house.
2. Part-Time Job From Home
Remote work often allows you to set your own hours and work at your own pace. This flexibility is perfect for balancing a full-time job or other responsibilities. Plus, you save time and money by not having to commute.
Remote part-time jobs range from customer service roles to virtual assistants or data entry positions. You can choose from the options that match your skills and interests to start earning extra money right away. Just keep in mind that you may not be able to work whenever you want, but you should try to find a shift that works for your availability.
Platforms like Remote.co and FlexJobs are great options to start with since these job board sites are geared toward work-from-home opportunities. But sometimes, you may need to do some extra research on your own, too. Check out companies that are popular for remote jobs, like Amazon, U-Haul, and Williams-Sonoma, and set up alerts for their Careers page updates so you can apply for positions directly, too.
3. Sell Services on Fiverr or Upwork
If you have a skill or talent, consider monetizing it to supplement your income. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork connect freelancers with clients seeking services in different fields and categories like graphic design, writing, programming, and marketing.
Fiverr and Upwork allow you to build a profile showcasing your skills and experience, making it easy for potential clients to find you. When you sign up, you just list your services, set your rates, and promote your profile.
To succeed on these platforms, focus on building a strong profile and gathering positive reviews. Reviews are everything on Fiverr and Upwork. To get started, you may need to offer special discounts and complete services at a more competitive rate to attract more customers and gain experience. But you can soon start increasing your rates as your profile grows and you increase your skill set.
4. Rent Out Your Space with Airbnb
Do you have a spare room or an unused property? Renting it out on Airbnb can be a lucrative way to supplement your income. Airbnb is a popular platform, and millions of travelers use it worldwide.
So, if you have a spare room or basement and live in an area that is popular with travelers, you could earn some extra money as a host. With Airbnb, you can set your prices when you create your listing and the availability for your space. If you don’t want to rent it out on certain days, just block off those dates in the calendar.
Airbnb handles all the work, such as collecting payments, screening applicants, and more. If you’re considering signing up, you can even get an estimate of how much you can earn based on the size of the space and the area you’re in.
Another feature that can help you make money with Airbnb is the Experiences tab. Airbnb Experiences allows locals to host unique activities and experiences for travelers in their city. Whether it’s a cooking class, a guided tour, or an adventure activity, you can turn something you’re passionate about into extra cash by creating and hosting an experience.
5. Start a Blog
Blogs have been around for a long time, and starting a blog is still a great way to supplement your income if you have a clear strategy and some patience. You won’t make money as a blogger overnight, but there are still plenty of income streams you can launch with a successful blog.
Some people may tell you to focus on your passions and start blogging about that. But if you really want to create a blog that you can monetize, you should research popular topics first. See what people are interested in and topics where it’s easier to monetize your content.
For example, a blog about being a mom can be a great topic, but it’s a little broad, and your audience may not know what to expect. But if you homeschool your kids, you can focus the blog on that topic. Once you build your traffic, you can create digital products like ebooks or an online course about getting started with homeschooling or downloadable guides and checklists to help parents.
Once you’ve built a following, you can monetize your blog in numerous ways, including advertising by using ad networks like Google Adsense and Mediavine, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.
While building a successful blog takes time and effort, the potential rewards make it a worthwhile investment. If you’re able to earn money by integrating relevant ads on your website, you’ll earn passive income after putting in a lot of work and effort upfront.
6. Sell Products on Etsy
Etsy is a global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies, but it’s also a great place to sell digital products like printables, worksheets, stickers, and spreadsheet templates.
To start selling on Etsy, create a shop and list your products with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions. Pricing your items competitively while considering your materials and time is also important. Etsy charges a small fee for each listing and takes a percentage of your sales, so factor these costs into your pricing.
You can promote your shop through social media platforms, Etsy SEO, digital ad placements, and by engaging with your customers to build a loyal following.
If you want to be successful long-term on Etsy, be sure to provide excellent customer service and timely communication. The key is to set yourself apart and consistently improve your products and services.
7. Start Pet Sitting
If you’re an animal lover, pet sitting is a fun and rewarding way to supplement your income. Many pet owners need reliable caretakers while they’re away, and platforms like Rover and PetBacker make it easy to connect with clients in your area.
Pet sitting offers the flexibility to choose your schedule and the types of pets you’d like to care for. Whether you’re watching dogs, cats, or other animals, this side gig allows you to earn money while doing something you actually enjoy.
Before starting, ensure you’re comfortable with the responsibilities of pet sitting, which may include feeding, walking, and administering medication. Building trust with your clients and their pets is, too, so focus on providing excellent care and communication.
My family travels a few times per year, and we often work with a dog sitter from Rover. We like to set up a meet-and-greet before hiring someone to ensure our dog gets along with them first.
But we happily pay anywhere from $35 to $40 per night for pet sitting for her, and oftentimes, the sitter is watching another dog, too. So, if you just watched a few pets per month, you could easily earn an extra few hundred dollars or more per month, especially if you add additional services like dog walking.
Supplement Your Income Wrapup
There are several ways to supplement your income, whether you’re looking to take a short-term approach with gig work or a long-term approach by building a blog or side business. Narrow down your needs and availability to determine how much you want to make each month and what a realistic schedule looks like for you.
Thanks to the gig economy, it’s easier than ever to bring in additional income in your spare time. Most of us can shave a few hours off our schedule if we cut down on television or social media, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up rest days and having fun. Just try to balance the time spent on your income sources and choose an option that interests you and that you think you’d do well at. Which idea would you start with to supplement your income?
