Lots of people have one job. Many have two. There are lots of people that are struggling in the current financial climate and finding new ways to bring in extra cash is imperative. Using any spare time to make additional money will help lessen the impact and lower your stress. Let's have a look at some side income ideas for the year ahead.
Virtual Assistant
Working from home doesn't have to be for a job that you occasionally have to travel to the office for. There are lots of small businesses and solo business people who need help running their ventures. This is where you can come in, working from home on your laptop, providing services to help companies continue running. Businessmen and women don't start their companies to handle the books or plan their travel. Yet they might not have the money or requirements for a permanent employee. This is where a freelancer, just like you, can work for them a couple of hours a week. You might be booking travel, replying to emails, organising meetings and lots more. Virtual assistants are in demand and if you have a laptop, mobile phone and a decent broadband connection, you can do this from home. Take on a couple of clients who need a handful of hours of work each week and you are well on your way to making decent money. A great start to our list of side income ideas.
Blogging
Lots of people blog in their spare time and use this as one of their side income ideas. You might even have an old blog you can log into and start using again. The average full-time blogger earns £32,981 a year. However, if you are doing this in your spare time, you're not going to be looking at that amount of money, just yet! A few hours a week could bring in a few thousand pounds each year though. That would certainly top up your bank balance and help make ends meet. You can earn money from your blog by having adverts on there, as well as sponsored content. Create some content and that blog could start to become a revenue stream.
Driving Jobs
Chances are you know someone who has a side hustle as an Uber driver or something similar because this kind of job is becoming increasingly attractive to part-time workers. For those who desire flexibility and have a license, a part-time driving job can be a great way to earn some extra cash. If you’re an avid driver, maybe you’d be interested in teaching others, for example, becoming a truck driver trainer. This job is perfect for those who love to work on their own terms and take on as many clients as they choose. This year especially, professional drivers and driving trainers are needed more than ever and have the chance to make a pretty sizeable income. If you’re looking for a side hustle, why not give it a go?
Digital Downloads
Lots of people want to buy something and have it straight away. Even Amazon Prime can't really do that! By creating digital downloads, you can sell these over and over again, meaning you can keep the price affordable to potential buyers. Once you have created the digital download, you don't have to do anything else and it can sell forever. You could look into things that sell well or come up with your own ideas. Maybe travel guides, fitness tutorials or budget meal planning. Whatever skills you have, you could create digital downloads to sell on platforms such as Etsy. This is a well-deserved slot on our list of side income ideas.
Related: How to start a planner business
Affiliate Marketing
Do you have an audience online? Perhaps you have a newsletter, Facebook group or a decent Instagram following? Have you ever thought about affiliate marketing? This is when users have specific links on their website which promote certain businesses or specific products. When someone clicks on that link and goes on to make a purchase, the content creator gets a cut of the purchase. This could be a flat fee or maybe a percentage. There are lots of well-known affiliate programs out there including Amazon, but you might have a site where you can work with something more niche. Earning 10% of the price of a £100 online course will net you £10. Get clicks on this every day and this can soon be one of your favourite side income ideas.
As you can see, there are lots of ways to make additional money. These side income ideas are the perfect starting point if you are limited to working from home or have other responsibilities to work around. Start putting the time and effort in and you'll soon find that extra money dropping into your bank account.
