45 Ways to Supplement Your Income Creatively

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Supplement your income with these creative side hustles and gigs. Whether you plan to pay off debt, build an emergency fund, or save to retire early, having a side gig with your full-time job can help you live financially well.

What does supplementing income mean? Basically, it’s any additional income you make outside of your primary income source (i.e. full-time job).

A few years ago, I learned about side gigs, online surveys, freelancing opportunities, and the clever ways writers were supplementing income by starting a blog.

Read how you can make extra cash and supplement your income with a full-time job.

1. Blog about your ideas and passions

Starting a blog is simple and begins with choosing a web host provider. There are two hosting providers I’ve used. If you’re starting out Bluehost (at $3.95/mo plus a free domain for a year) is a good option. Currently, I use Siteground. They are a bit more expensive (at $6.99/mo) but I absolutely love the hosting service. Learn how to get started blogging here.

2. Complete online surveys

Supplement your income with paid online surveys. The reality is you won’t make a lot but you will make money. Your options for legitimate paid surveys are InboxDollars, Opinion Outpost, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Dabbl. You can sign up and try them all and stack your earnings.

3. Scan your grocery receipts

Use apps to earn cashback from groceries. Use apps like Ibotta and Checkout51 for cashback. Fetch Rewards is an ideal and easy app to use to upload your receipts and get points to redeem for gift rewards. Download and get the signup bonuses.

4. Make YouTube videos and tutorials

Millions of people watch YouTube videos not just for entertainment but for educational purposes too. Have a skill or expertise. Share your knowledge through videos. Use your smartphone camera to film your video and upload it. Create a YouTube account and start sharing your creativity to start earning revenues from ads that play. You can subscribe to my channel and learn more.

5. Start a podcast and share insights

Starting a show isn’t difficult but creating a quality podcast can take time. The advice from experts, however, is just to start. And you can do this by recording yourself or the interviews via Skype, using Audacity (free software), and an iPhone ear jack with a microphone. Many podcasters use the Blue Snowball iCE Condensor Microphone or the Audio Technica ATR2005 USB microphone for better sound quality.

6. Be a rideshare driver

Apps like Uber and Lyft can help you earn some serious dollars as a driver. Lyft, for instance, offers incentives and bonuses to get you on the road and make more.*

7. Deliver food to hungry people

Doordash helps you earn money by delivering food from any participating restaurant. Other services include Postmates and Instacart. Nothing stops you from using all the services to maximize your earnings. You earn a base delivery plus keep your tips. You decide when and how much you want to work. You’re an independent contractor so you have a bit more say.

8. Rent your car to others

Make money by renting your car to others when not in use. Turo is a marketplace that connects car owners with drivers.* You don’t need to have a fancy car but higher-end vehicles tend to do better. Turn your car into an income-producing asset.

9. Deliver packages and groceries

If you aren’t the type to want anyone in your car or have to make small talk, then delivery packages and groceries maybe your best option. Depending on the location you live in, Amazon Flex could have you delivering packages and groceries using your car and choosing your work hours. Other companies include Instacart and Postmates.

10. Complete errands and tasks

With apps like TaskRabbit, you can earn money helping others get tasks done like furniture assembly, data entry, handyman fixes, or moving.

11. Dog walk or pet sit

Rover connects you to dog owners who need help walking and caring for their furry family members. If you’re the dog lover, then you can supplement your income by walking, boarding, and playing with dogs.

12. Babysit children

Care.com is a marketplace that connects you with parents needing babysitters.

13. Help senior adults

Care.com connects you with seniors who need help around the house or with completing tasks.

14. Clean other people’s homes

Post an ad on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for your services. Or join marketplaces like TaskRabbit.

15. Complete simple tasks online

Amazon Mechanical Turk service connects you to simple tasks that computers are still not good at completing. Use your computer to perform tasks posted on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk.

16. Design logos and short videos

Fiverr is a marketplace that connects those seeking creative work with creators and designers.*

17. Share your city with tourists

Love your city and meeting travelers? Airbnb Experience may be the right site to get paid showing travelers your city at sunset, earn while sharing an experience you’ve crafted, or simply sharing your favorite spots.

18. Write articles for others

Use your writing skills and earn money. Textbroker connects you with online publishers. And if you’ve tried any of these services and want to share your experience, let us know too. We’re always looking for new writing talent to help others live financially well.

19. Become a freelance writer

Are you a more seasoned writer? Try out Contently.*

20. Support entrepreneurs as a virtual assistant

Have administration skills or handy with a spreadsheet? Earn money as someone’s virtual assistant completing tasks remotely. Find freelance jobs on Upwork.

21. Offer your professional services

Join a marketplace that connects you to customers looking for help in fixing HVAC, unclogging a drain, painting, and other services. TaskRabbit and Thumbtack are great places to start.*

22. Sell furniture, tools, and appliance

Don’t trash them. Sell them on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay.* Or through shopping apps like OfferUp.

23. Sell your used clothes and items

Poshmark is a good place to sell your designer clothes, accessories, and shoes to shoppers who want your unique style.

24. Sell books and DVDs

Amazon has been a solid place to sell my library’s worth of books. However, if you just want the books and other media out of the home use a service like Decluttr. They buy your used tech, books, and DVDs. This approach keeps you from having to post and respond to buyers.

25. Sell your smartphone

Make money from your old phone through the website Gazelle, which buys the phone from you without the need to deal with buyers.* Compared to competitors I’ve found Gazelle to be a bit more competitive. But you’ll still get more money from selling your phone directly to a buyer using Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, and OfferUp.

26. Sell photos

Whether you’re a professional or amateur photographer, you can turn those photos you’ve taken into some dollars by selling to photo repositories. Start making money from your photos using Shutterstock.

27. Sell your smartphone photos

Foap marketplace knows smartphones have come a long way in taking great photos. You can earn money selling your photos taken from your iOS or Android smartphones.

28. Sell your handmade craft or artwork

Many shoppers are looking for unique crafts or designs Etsy makes this possible for you to create your own store selling printables or handicrafts.

29. Sell designs on t-shirts, hats, and mugs

Use Cafepress or Printful to start your on-demand customized print store. There is no need to carry inventory. All you’ll have to do is share your online store or create ads on Facebook to reach your target audience.

30. Do secret shops and audits

With your smartphone, you can complete retail audits by snapping photos or conducting customer service shops. Gigwalk and FieldAgent are apps that help you do exactly that.* Check out the marketplace for more opportunities.

31. Use a different browser or shopping apps

Start using Swagbucks to do your online searches and you’ll earn points redeemable for gift cards. Additionally, you can earn back your money using rebate shopping portals or apps like Rakuten and Drop. It’s not new money but cash back for purchases.

32. Take photos of help wanted signs

Indeed, one of the largest job boards has an app that lets users snap photos of help wanted signs with an app called Jobspotter.

33. Rent your space

Using Airbnb, you can rent your home, second bedroom or spare room to travelers seeking a more home feel during their travels.*

34. Rent your driveway or spot

If you live downtown or near points of interest (like stadiums, venus, etc) rent your driveway or parking spot. Spothero enables you to list your space and they’ll manage it all for you.

35. Rent your boat or RV

Don’t have your RV and boat just sitting around collecting dust. These recreational vehicles are expensive to maintain. Unlock its earning potential when not in use. Boatsetter, for instance, makes it easy for you to list your boat in their marketplace.

36. Become an instructor

Many people want to learn specific skills. With Udemy, you can teach an online course on any subject with a dedicated community of learners.

37. Create a course online

Teachable makes it easy for you to share your knowledge with others through a compelling online platform. Share your knowledge and make recurring income. If you plan to make money blogging, then offering a course can help increase your revenues.

38. Teach English or a foreign language

Rosetta Stone and iTalki connect you with people all over the world trying to learn new languages. Just spending a few hours per week can help you turn your language skills into money.

39. Be a tutor to a college student

Through Chegg, you can earn money tutoring students in a variety of subjects.

40. Write and self-publish a book

Self-publish your novel and sell directly on Amazon. I self-published a crowdfunding book a few years ago. It still passively makes me a few dollars per month.

41. Cash through a clinical trial

Join a study and make money from pharmaceutical companies conducting human drug trials. Check the website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov

42. Donate your plasma

Find a plasma center near you and make money donating your plasma for medical use to treat some rare diseases. You could end up actually helping others through their medical conditions. Check the website: www.DonatingPlasma.org

43. Fund the loans of others

Through Prosper and LendingClub, you make money investing in personal loans from approved borrowers. These companies are called peer-to-peer marketplaces that connect investors with borrowers. Most investors use these P2P marketplaces to diversify their investments.

44. Create an interest group

Do you have a fondness for SciFi movies or outdoor hikes? Start a group on Meetup and create paid activities.

45. Get cashback from gas purchases

GetUpside shows you the cheapest gas in your area and lets you scan your receipt and get money back.

Other Ideas to Supplement Your Income

Check our financial marketplace for additional opportunities to supplement your income. You’ll be able to search, filter, and choose the right opportunities for you.

Have any other ideas to supplement your income?