10 issues you might be doing proper now to make more cash

Making more money is always welcome, but with busy lives and work commitments to manage, it’s hard to see where some additional income could be sourced.

Side hustles, as they are known, are a great way to boost your income, plus they let you explore ideas that often don’t need any investment or major time commitments.

There are loads of different side hustle opportunities, whether in-person or online, so there will always be something for everyone.

I’m Lisa Johnson – a global business strategist running That Strategy Co, helping ambitious people to create passive and semi-passive income streams – that is, regular earnings from a source other than your employer.

I’m the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Making Money Online and a 46-year-old mother-of-twins who went from being £35,000 in debt to earning £16m over just six years – and I teach others how to do it too.

A lot of what I teach is based on making the most of what you already know, and this is a good place to start when thinking about what you could do to supplement your income.

But sometimes it’s not just a case of looking at what you know but at what you may already have. This can also be extremely useful in adding some extra income.

The list I’ve put together below looks at both of these options and has plenty of variety. Good luck!

1. Turn your knowledge into cash

Firstly, think about how you could turn your knowledge into something that others need. 

Online memberships and courses are what I know best (and what I have helped thousands of people around the world to do), and it is a fact that everyone has something that others would be interested in learning! 

If you can create a course or some kind of online learning, it means you will no longer be restricted by the number of hours in the day and your product can continue selling without you having to be there in person. 

Remember, an expert is simply the person who knows the most about a particular subject in an average sized room, so get thinking about what you know!

2. Run your house like a business

As a business owner, you need to know your outgoings and incomings – why should your house be any different? 

Do a household bills audit. Run through everything that your family spends in a month, then go through the bill comparison websites and see if you can get things such as mobile phones, electricity or savings any cheaper or better from another supplier. 

Don’t forget to unsubscribe from those products you no longer use – you can save a small fortune this way. 

This is something that we should all do at least once a year, as it’s easy to slip into staying with the same companies when we could be making sizable savings by shopping around.

3. Get paid to watch TV

This might just be the ultimate gig for some people! Sign up to websites such as theviewer.co.uk and join a fun research panel where you can earn up to £150 for up to six hours of your time. 

It’s free to register and you will be earning you money for doing pretty much nothing other than giving your opinion on topics such as your favourite programme as well as new shows that are in development. 

There are also prizes on offer. Pass the remote!

4. Make cash from your spare room

Whether you have a loft you’re not using, or there’s a room you can convert into a spare bedroom, don’t let the space go to waste. 

Make the most of the government’s Rent A Room scheme which allows you to earn up to £7,500 tax free from renting out your home. Spare Room, Roomgo and AirBnb are just a few sites to consider. 

This is classic passive income, as your room is already there, meaning no investment required from you. 

You’ll get paid 24 hours after a guest checks in, which means you avoid any problems or scams.

5. Rent out your drive

With the work-from-home boom, more people are moving further away from rail stations. 

So, if you live near to one, or a city centre, an airport, a railway station or even a football ground, it’s worth looking into renting your driveway – as it could earn as much as £350 a month. 

Check out sites including Parklet or YourParkingSapce. You’ll pay a commission fee

6. Make money from your spare space

Making up to a few hundred pounds a month from simply allowing others to store things in your garage, shed or loft isn’t to be sniffed at. 

Yes, all the income needs to be declared, but £1,000 of that is tax free. Check out Stashbee.

7. Get rid of old phones and tech

Every household has them; drawers of old phones, cables, games consules. There’s no point leaving them just sitting there – you could earn about £8 just from flogging an old iPhone box, or £22 for an old remote control.

Sites like eBay, Facebook and Gumtree are perfect. Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Plus you’ll declutter at the same time.

8. Sell old Lego

Sites such as Music Magpie will pay for your mountains of Lego bricks that are probably gathering dust. The payment is worked out via weight, and it’s £3 per kilo. 

While you’re on the site, it’ll also pay for your old CDs, DVDs, and games. Note that it needs to be genuine Lego bricks and they must be in good condition. 

Post it to the site via the instructions on the website and they’ll pay you via PayPal or bank transfer.

9. Have a clear out

Be ruthless and declutter your wardrobe taking all the items that you no longer wear – or the ones you’ve never worn. 

There are loads of websites for selling your unwanted clothes, from Vinted to Vestiaire Collective, covering everything from high street to designer. 

Plus, by selling clothes online you are reducing waste and extending the lifespan of your items. So,  instead of ending up in landfills, your clothes can continue to be worn and enjoyed by someone else.

10. Get out and about

If you are a fan of our furry friends then pet sitting or walking is a great way to make some extra cash. 

Around 50% of British families own a pet and a lot of these will want to go on holiday without their tiny companions. 

Apparently millennials are currently the largest pet-owning generation, and they reportedly spend over £1.7 billion a year on their pets. So, when you also factor in dog walking for busy people, this is a great way to top up your income.

I hope this has given you a few ideas, but remember that there are hundreds of other ways to increase your income out there too. 

• Lisa Johnson is a global business strategist running That Strategy Co, helping ambitious people to create passive and semi-passive income streams.