Making extra money

If you're only just managing day to day, saving could seem like a far off dream. However, with a few spare hours and a bit of energy, there are other ways to make extra cash for your savings pot. It's best not to rely on quick fixes to pay your bills though, because they can be unpredictable.

If you do make additional money, think of it as a bonus for your savings. There are loads of ways to make a bit more money by using the facilities you already have. You could even set aside one evening (or more) a week, or spend one weekend a month, for your money-making plan.  

Here's some of Jasmine's ideas for making quick cash:

• If you've got any musical talent, busking is a great way to make money and have some fun. You've got to be brave and get out in front of lots of people – but if you give a good show you can make a lot of money in a few hours. You can busk all over the place, but it's important to check with your local council whether you need a license or a permit before you do it.
• Sell things you don't need or want at car boots and online auction sites like eBay. One person's tat is another's treasure! If you're selling online, make sure you spell your listing right so it's not missed in search results. Do you need to improve your punctuation or practise your spelling? All of our English courses lead to a nationally recognised qualification – the Certificate in Adult Literacy – which could help you get it right.
• Make money writing an online blog or online diary. There are sometimes websites seeking bloggers to write daily posts, reviews and adding links. It won't pay well but can be a useful little earner. Check on Gumtree under both the part-time work and the media, design and creative tabs. If you'd like to improve your reading, writing, and spelling, we can help.
• Host a foreign language student. If you have time on your hands and a spare room, you could host a foreign student in your own home and get a bit of culture at the same time. If you want to brush up on your English skills with us, you could even earn extra money giving them tuition using your new skills!
• Become a nanny. If you're looking for some part-time nanny work, you can just be an after-school childminder so it doesn't take up your whole day. You'd be responsible for picking up the children from school at around 3pm and then taking them home and looking after them until their parents get home from work. The job involves supervising homework and playtime, preparing tea and ferrying the children around to any after-school activities. Not confident enough to answer homework questions the children may have? By brushing up your maths and English skills, you'll be helping them in no time.
• Get paid to iron. By doing other people's washing and ironing you can make cash when it suits you, whilst catching up with the Eastenders omnibus! Bring in customers by putting an advert in the local paper and handing out leaflets in your local area.
• If you're good at making cakes and sweets, you can make a bit of extra cash selling them at local fairs and car boot sales. All you'll really need is to have a good few recipes under your belt and a reasonable idea of what people would buy. Be aware that if you're regularly selling food produce, you'll need to take a course in food hygiene. If you need to fill some gaps in your CV like this, our eCourses are flexible online courses broken down into bite-sized chunks of learning. All the support you need is built into the course so they're perfect for people who just want to brush up on them quickly and easily from home.  Visit the eCourses website to find out more.

If you need to to fill some gaps in your CV like this, our eCourses are flexible online courses broken down into bite-sized chunks of learning. All the support you need is built into the course so they're perfect for people who just want to brush up on them quickly and easily from home. Visit the eCourses website to find out more.

Pay yourself a bonus with these tips. Your extra money can work harder for you if you think about where to store it for the future. In our next page, we’ll tell you more about how to choose the best savings accounts and plan for your future >>