Monday Moneyvators: Spike your savings with a side hustle

You know what they say, “a little goes a long way”. It’s true you know. Just think of what you could do if you put aside an extra $100 a week. That’s an extra $5,200 a year! You could put it towards extra home loan repayments, or even spoil yourself with a well-deserved holiday.

Which brings us to this week’s Monday Money-vator… Yep, you guessed it. Starting a side hustle. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mum, a uni student or you just have a heap of time to kill, here are a bunch of different ways to earn some extra cash on the side.

User-testing

You give your opinion out for free every day, so why not get paid for it? There are loads of companies out there that are willing to pay for your honest opinion and feedback on their websites or mobile apps (yes, really). All you really need is an internet connection and you’re set to go!

Online surveys

Another way to earn some quick cash is by completing online surveys. If you jump online and do a search on it you’ll find paid surveys for products, services and just about everything else. Just make sure you do your research first before getting started because not all sites pay in cash, some will compensate your time with gift cards and vouchers.

Uber driving

It’s the 21st-century folks! With Uber, Lyft and bajillion other ridesharing services popping up by the second, if you’ve got a car, then you’ve got a business. The great thing about being an uber driver is that you set your own business hours. So, if you initially start uber driving for some extra money on the side and then decide to make it a full-time gig later on, you'll have the flexibility to do just that.

Online tutoring

Are you a mathematician, physics whizz or diehard Shakespeare fan? Knowledge is power, and power is money! So, why not turn your knowledge into cash by joining an online tutoring portal where you can get paid to conduct one-on-one tutoring sessions online?

Sell your old stuff

Got an outdoor playhouse that your kids have outgrown? Or what about the pair of skis you only used once that are collecting dust in your garage? Before you dump them outside for the council to collect, if the items are in good condition, you could sell them. Websites like Gumtree and eBay are a great way to turn your unwanted items into easy cash. Just register for a free account and quickly post an ad online, then wait for the offers to roll in.

Get creative

Are you a budding writer? A Spielberg in the making? A graphic design geek? Or a killer vocalist with pipes like Christina? Whatever your hobby or hidden talent is, chances are you could turn it into a stream of income. You could start a YouTube channel or create your own blog. There are endless freelancing gigs going around in just about every industry, so why not embrace your creative spark and pursue your dreams? As they say, “find a job you love and you’ll never work another day!”

Chuck all your extra cash into a high-interest savings account so you can get a little extra bang for your buck in interest!