With the cost of living still biting many households, and projections of declining disposable incomes for the rest of the decade, many people are looking at ways of making extra cash.

And around half of UK adults now have a second job, or a ‘side hustle’. Whilst average earnings are often modest, at around £200 a week, others can do well enough that it becomes their main form of income.

There are many different ways you can bring in some extra income in your spare time, helping you balance household budgets or put money aside for special occasions.

Side hustles can be a great way to make some extra cash by using unique talents or underused assets.

Most of us are still feeling the effects of rising prices; whether it’s the weekly shop, rents or energy bills.

It is possible to rein in spending by focusing on what we have to pay for, but life’s no fun if it’s all work and bills. We need to have things to look forward to in our lives, whether it’s a holiday or a longed for purchase.

But rather than putting these things on the credit card or loan and paying high rates of interest which will only worsen finances, there are many ways you can make some extra cash which can be saved towards that treat.

Here are my top 6 tips for making extra cash in 2026

Start a blog

77% of internet users read blogs so if you enjoy writing then start a blog. You can write when you want, where you want for and for however long you want.

It’s particularly good for parents since you can write posts, create content and make videos while your children sleep, choose your own working hours to fit around the school run and even save money on childcare by working from home.

Initial set up costs for a blog can be minimal. You need a laptop or a tablet and a simple Excel spreadsheet to record income and expenditure. A smartphone is also useful to take good pictures.

There’s a choice of budget friendly and free blogging platforms and on average a typical domain name costs between just £10 and £15 per year. Some companies have discount codes and special offers such as free domain names for the first year linked in to their hosting plans.

Rent out your driveway

Commuters can pay hundreds of pounds a month for parking and with hybrid and office working now the norm, there will be demand for better value for commuters.

If you have a driveway with an extra space or don’t use the one you have during the day, why not rent it out?

You can use websites such as yourparkingspace.co.uk, parklet.co.uk or justpark.com. The website lets you advise your space availability along with how much you would like to rent the space for.

Renting out your driveway could be particularly productive if you live near popular train stations or near busy towns and cities particularly as councils across the country are putting up parking charges.

Monetise your wardrobe

According to research by climate action group WRAP the average adult has around 118 pieces of clothing in their wardrobes but 25% go unworn every year. This adds up to an incredible £1.6 billion pounds of wasted earning potential.

Hiring out your clothes has sustainability benefits of being responsible fashion. Look into doing so on HURR hurrcollective.com and By Rotation byrotation.com websites The fees for both are just 15% so if you’ve got the wardrobe then can be a good little earner as the payments really do add up.

Not everyone can afford designer dresses. If you want some help and inspiration to monetise your wardrobe and turn unused clothes in to a new source of income, check out the stylisa.com/website.

Share your house

If you have a spare room, consider renting it out to make some extra money to cover mortgage or home expenses. You just need the space and a warm welcome. Rooms in high-demand areas (cities, near universities, or tourist hotspots) can fetch higher rents as do rooms which are clean, well-presented and maintained. With good planning, renting out a room can be a profitable way to boost your income.

The tax threshold for renting out a room is £7500 a year: you can check the rules at

https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

Complete surveys

Earning money from completing surveys is a popular way to make extra income online. You won’t typically earn a full-time wage but survey completion can be a really convenient way to earn some extra cash. Sign up for survey sites which pay for your opinions. Some examples include: swagbucks.com Offers surveys, tasks, and other rewards like watching videos. You earn points (SB) redeemable for gift cards or PayPal cash.

toluna.com Offers points for surveys, which can be redeemed for vouchers or cash.

To maximise earnings, sign up to multiple platforms, refer friends to receive referral bonuses, complete your profile thoroughly and complete surveys regularly, honestly and timely.

Set up an online shop

Selling online is a great way to make some extra cash, whether that’s by decluttering your home, flipping items for profit, or selling handmade products.

Reselling sites like Vinted, eBay and Facebook marketplace are the most popular where you can sell items such as clothes, electronics, furniture, toys, books, jewellery, accessories and collectables.

If you love searching for a bargain you could flip items for profit. Buy them at budget stores or in the sales and re-sell them for a profit. Popular categories for this are vintage clothing, small appliances, tools, and retro games.

Alternatively sell on more niche marketplaces like Etsy for handmade goods, crafts and vintage goods.


Jane runs the consumer advice website ladyjaney.co.uk