How to Earn Extra Money From Home

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These tips for how to earn extra money from home can really jump-start your finances this year.

When I was a magazine publishing executive managing a multi-million dollar budget, I learned a simple truth: If you want more money on the bottom line, it’s usually easier to get there by earning more revenue than cutting expenses. 

A collection of vintage items for sale and the headline Make Extra Money

So if we want to make a dent in our debt or jump-start our savings during this #JanuaryMoneyDiet month, making some extra cash is an easy path to help us achieve our goals.

Here are some ideas: 

Sell Something Gathering Dust

One of the easiest ways to bring in extra cash is to find something unused among our treasures we can sell. We’ll eliminate clutter and free up some space, and we’ll keep one more thing out of landfill.

I’ve sold several things quickly and easily on Nextdoor.com, which is a site that connects local neighbors. Classified ads are free, and you can choose exactly which neighborhoods in your locale to target. Craigslist can be great for getting rid of larger items like unwanted furniture or appliances. Selling something locally has the advantage of being quick, and you don’t have to mess with shipping or waiting for payment.

One caveat — please be careful when responding to potential buyers on big, public sites like Craigslist. Scams and fraudsters abound. If someone offers you more than your asking price for your item, that’s a huge red flag. Don’t respond, and report the user. Ask for cash payment, and always meet in a public place (we go to the library) to exchange items.

Only $50 for this riding lawnmower!

I’ve also sold unwanted books, DVDs and CDs on Amazon. You don’t need to take any photographs; just sign up for a seller account, list your items (Amazon gives you very specific guidelines so you can accurately list the quality of the item) and wait for the orders. Books and discs are easy to ship, and Amazon reimburses you for the postage. If you use the USPS’s media mail, you might even make a little profit on the shipping fee. The one thing I will say is that prices are rock-bottom on Amazon, so you might have to sell a handful of items to make it worth your time.

eBay takes a little more effort, but the results can be amazing — especially if you have a hot collectible. I’ve sold hundreds of things on eBay, and their Quick Start Guide shows you how easy it is to list your items. Just set up a seller account, take a photo of your item, write an accurate description, and carefully pack and ship your item. If that sounds like too much work, you can use eBay Valet and a professional seller will take care of the transaction for you in exchange for a cut of the sale.

If you have unworn clothing in good condition, you might try selling it at a consignment store. Retailers like Plato’s Closet pay cash on the spot for trendy clothing. My neighbor sells her daughters’ lightly-worn clothes to a children’s consignment shop nearby. Do you have broken gold or silver jewelry, or pieces you no longer wear? JMDer Kathy wrote that she sold her single gold earrings and a few other pieces for cash.

If you live in a warmer climate, you might consider holding a garage sale this month.

Offer Your Expertise

Snag a pet sitting job, or babysit, or get a quick freelance job, or volunteer to work overtime at your job.

Perhaps you could offer handyman services, or do housecleaning, or dog walking.

Offer cooking classes, or help kids with their homework, or teach ukulele lessons. Share your skills and make money.

Let’s Make Extra Cash!

We’d all love to know what you do to earn some extra cash. If you’re so inclined, leave a comment on this post or stop by the Money Diet Community Facebook Group to share your ideas and money-making successes.

Best always,

Eliza Cross's signature

6 thoughts on “How to Earn Extra Money From Home”

  1. I sold some hiking boots in nearly-new condition — my son outgrew them after wearing once or twice. I made a quick $30 and my neighbor has new boots, all because I looked in the garage …

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  2. I started looking for recipes online. I saved over $42.00 on the first half of food shopping and plan to save even more with second half. Made a menu and will stick to it. So far we have and that is having husband at home for a few months recovering.

    Reply
  3. I am trying to sell some of my Disney dishes. Hope I get someone that loves Disney like I do, Sad but I don’t think I will be going to Disney again. With the prices going up the average family can’t afford it but I got to go and that is a memory I will have forever. God’s blessing to you and yours

    Reply
  4. So far this month, I have sold two separate Silpada necklaces totalling $35. We have some great Facebook selling groups, and I chose one that allows cross-posting onto Marketplace. In the six weeks before the end of 2021, I made more than $1,000 from just selling “stuff”. Many years ago, my Mother gave me a vintage 1960 silver artificial Christmas tree that we used when I was growing up. Since I have never used it, I listed and sold it for $250! The lady who bought it was thrilled to add it to her 1950’s decorated home.

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