With summer coming to a close and the kids heading back to school, many people find themselves with some extra time on their hands. Make the most of your spare time by monetizing it.
Here are three ways you can start making some extra money in your free time:
Monetize Your Hobby
If you nurture your creative side with a hobby like painting, sewing, knitting or any other crafty venture, chances are that there is a market of people who would be interested in paying for your goods. Start small and determine one or two things that you can make that aren’t extremely time-consuming to create. Ideally your product should be scalable so that if the demand for it increases, you can produce the necessary amount on your own.
Once you’ve decided what products you want to sell, you need to photograph them on a plain background in good lighting from a few different angles to clearly illustrate the product details. Next, you need to decide where to sell your products. Selling online is ideal if your handcrafted items are lightweight and inexpensive to ship. Etsy and Amazon are popular sites that reach a massive audience, though it’s also easy for your items to get lost in the sea of other products, so you may have more success finding a more niche option. Another option is to sell locally at gift shops and community events. This a great alternative if your product is costly to ship or something that is hard to get a feel for without seeing in person.
Start a Business with an Established Brand
If monetizing a hobby and starting your own brand from the ground up is more than you have time to tackle, it may be a better fit for you to start your own business with an established brand. For instance, when you start a business with Amway selling the company’s world-renowned health and beauty products, you will also get business guidance and sales advice from seasoned professionals in the business. And since you’re selling products from a worldwide brand, the elements of quality and brand recognition can also make the products easier to sell than those of a newer brand.
While some aspiring entrepreneurs shy away from the direct selling business model, wondering if Amway is a scam, when you dig deeper into the dollars and cents of the matter, it is clear that the benefits of becoming an Independent Business Owner through the company make this a viable option. With low start-up costs, comprehensive business support and a satisfaction guarantee, this is a great side hustle for those who are new to entrepreneurship.
Sell What You Don’t Need
Clear the clutter in your home and get rid of anything that is no longer of use to you. While you may not need it, others may find value in things that are still in good condition, especially if they have a unique style or are made by a name brand.
Go through your home, room by room, gathering anything that you isn’t useful to you. Separate the items into three piles: sell, donate and trash. If something is in great condition and could be useful to others, sell it privately on OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace or at a local consignment store. If you can spare the time, selling things on your own is more lucrative than at a consignment or resale shop since the store will be taking a cut of the profit. Try to sell things privately first and then consign whatever is left over after a week or two.
Not only will this help put some extra cash in your pocket, but clearing the clutter from your home has other benefits too. It can help boost inner peace and with fewer things, you can also save yourself some time cleaning.
By making your free time more than just “me time,” you can earn extra money and enjoy a renewed sense of balance, confidence and self-sufficiency. Whether you choose to sell your old stuff, start a direct sales business or sell your own handmade goods, don’t waste any time and get selling today.
