“The lack of money,” said Mark Twain, “is the root of all evil.” This twist on a famous proverb simultaneously shows Twain’s wit and points to a fundamental truth about our world: we need money to survive, and more of it can therefore help us to muddle through life just a little easier. Whether you’re saving for a holiday, trying to take a new course or just hoping to eat classier food, you’ll need more cash to do it.
“How to get more money” is an age-old problem, and one that many philosophers, economists and other luminaries have tackled. Today’s society is no different; we’re all looking to make a quick buck however we can, and maybe have a little fun along the way. Here are our top tips and tricks to help you put more money in your pocket this year.
Take out a loan
It might sound obvious, but taking out a loan can help you accrue money in more ways than you might think. If you’re thinking of getting a loan, the first and most important thing is to find yourself a highly recommended lender so as to avoid untrustworthy or unscrupulous merchants (of which there are, unfortunately, many). Taking out a loan doesn’t just give you a quick cash injection to spend on DIY projects, gifts or other immediate expenses. If you’ve never taken a loan out before, you could actually improve your credit score by taking one out and paying it back promptly, thus improving your chances of getting things like mortgages later down the line. Trust us when we say that taking out a loan can actually improve your financial health significantly – just make sure you’ve got the capacity to pay it back!
Sell old stuff that’s lying around
Be honest with yourself – are you really going to use that electric heater you got, now that you’re in a centrally-heated house? Do you think you’ll ever find a use for that bicycle or are you within walking distance of all your usual haunts? You’d be amazed at the amount of potential cash there is lying around in your old junk and accumulated possessions over the years. Sites like eBay and Amazon are great havens for old second-hand items you no longer want to use, while Mazuma and MusicMagpie are the perfect places for your used electronics and CDs. Let your possessions work for you – don’t leave things lying around that could be lucrative!
Give matched betting a try
Matched betting might sound like the kind of con that suckers people in, but trust us when we say it’s entirely legitimate. Essentially, matched betting is a way of taking advantage of all the first-time offers that betting sites and bookmakers offer to new customers and making money from them. This guide is a much more eloquent explanation of the core concepts, but once you’ve grasped the basics, making money through matched betting is surprisingly easy and pretty profitable, too. What’s more, you can participate in matched betting in your downtime, as it doesn’t take a huge amount of time for beginners. If you want to get more heavily involved, you can; the ratio of effort to reward is solid in matched betting.
For a quick start guide to matched betting, sign up to my mailing list below and receive a FREE monthly matched betting calendar to help you keep track of important sporting events. You will also receive tips and tricks on how to make the most of your new income stream.
Become a taxi driver
Do you know your city well? Think you could ferry people around with a reasonable degree of reliability? Alternately, are you a wizard with Google Maps? If so, why not sign up for services like Lyft or Uber? These companies are great for making a little extra cash on the side, as you can work whenever you want and all you need is your own car (plus a little capital to start with so you can pay for expenses). If you find driving cathartic and are constantly looking for excuses to do it, then Uber is a great way to earn money while you do what you love – and you’ll meet new people into the bargain, too. There are downsides, of course; you’ll need to work irregular hours for the most lucrative fares, and the rates are maybe not quite as good as a standard 9 to 5 job because of the sporadic nature of the work. Still, it’s a fun, creative way to earn.
Teach English as a foreign language
Don’t worry – you don’t have to travel halfway across the world or earn pricey qualifications to teach English as a foreign language. Plenty of students are looking for colloquial English lessons from native speakers, as learning conversational English is far more difficult than learning the language formally. Sites such as Italki connect potential students with teachers all around the world, offering 1 to 1 lessons that you can arrange and discuss with the student themselves. If you’re confident in your language skills and think you’d make a good teacher but don’t want the hassle of undergoing lengthy courses, then give Italki (or its competitors) a try!
