5 Smart Investments to Make Extra Income

When it comes to investing, there are a lot of options out there. But with so many options, it can be tough to know where to start. Here is a quick list of five investments that can help you make extra income.

These diverse options can be tailored to fit your individual needs and goals. So whether you're looking for short-term or long-term gains, there's an option below.

401(k) Investments

A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer. It allows employees to save and invest for their future with pre-tax dollars. 

Many employers also offer a match ranging from 50% to 100% of employee contributions, up to a certain limit. This match is essentially free money, so it's important to take advantage of it if your employer offers it. 

Investing in a 401(k) is a great way to save money for the future while getting some tax breaks along the way.

Dividend Stocks

A dividend stock is a type of stock that pays regular cash dividends to shareholders from the company's profits. Dividend stocks are a great investment for those looking for regular income from their investments. 

They can also be reinvested to compound gains over time. When selecting dividend stocks, it's important to look at the dividend yield (the percentage of the share price paid out in dividends) and the dividend payout ratio (the percentage of net income paid out in dividends). 

You also want to make sure that the company has a history of paying and increasing its dividends over time.

Rental Properties

Owning rental property can be a great way to generate passive income. Passive income is income that you earn without having to work for it. 

Rental properties provide a steady income stream that helps you reach your financial goals more quickly. When considering rental properties, it's important to factor in location, repair costs, property taxes, and insurance costs. 

You'll also want to ensure that you have enough capital to cover any unexpected repairs or vacancies.

Index Funds

An index fund is a type of mutual fund with a portfolio constructed to match or track the performance of a market index, such as the S&P 500 or Dow Jones Industrial Average. 

Index funds are usually more diversified and have lower expense ratios than actively managed mutual funds, making them a great option for long-term investors looking for broad market exposure at a low cost.

Franchising

Investing in a franchise is a great way to make extra money. Franchises have a proven business model and brand recognition, which makes them easy to operate and relatively low-risk. 

This is a great way to get involved in a fast-growing industry. Franchises often expand rapidly, providing franchisees with opportunities to open new locations and grow their businesses. 

They also offer an easy path to entrepreneurship, allowing people to be their own bosses and control their destinies. Investing in a franchise is a great way to make extra money and achieve financial independence.

Many different investment options are available, making it tough to know where to start. However, you can select investments that fit your needs by researching and understanding your goals. The five options listed above are just some of the possibilities available. 

With so many options available, there's sure to be an investment that's right for you. Just remember to do your homework before making any decisions so that you understand both the risks and rewards involved.

4 Easy Ways to Make Extra Income after Retirement

Most people look forward to their retirement. It is their time to relax, travel some, and start enjoying life. Unfortunately, many retirees find that the dream they had to enjoy their retirement is not within their reach due to a lack of finances. 

Luckily, it is not that difficult to fatten your wallet without taking on a full time job. Here are some easy ways for retirees to make an extra income.

House Sitting

This is one of my favorite ways to make some cash. While traveling, many people do not like to leave their home empty. They would be very happy to pay you to stay at their house while away. 

Home owners like having seniors who have reached retirement age watch their house because older people are usually more responsible than their younger counterparts. It’s very easy to find work doing house sitting by searching online for house sitting jobs. You will find many websites offering such a service.

Pet Sitting

This is very similar to the house sitting jobs mentioned above. People don’t like to leave their pets locked up in a cage while traveling away from home. 

They would rather find someone who will take good care of their pet. This arrangement allows their pet the freedom to run and play while staying with you at your house.

Sell Stuff for Quick Cash

If you are just looking for fast money to finance some travel or give yourself a little treat, then there is no easier way than to sell something that you don’t use anymore. This is especially true for retirees. You spent your entire life accumulating belongings that you probably haven’t used in years. Take some of the items and sell them online. 

You can sell smaller items on Ebay or Amazon. Also, there are companies that will give you money for junk cars if you happen to have an old one in your garage that you don’t want anymore. You get to clear up space, and you make cash at the same time. Nice deal!

Find Part Time Work Online

Since you’re retired now, you probably don’t want to work a full-time job anymore. Have you thought about working part-time? There are many jobs available where you perform work online. The best part about these jobs is that many are very flexible with your work schedule. If you search for online jobs, then you will find many that suit your skills.

In conclusion, retirement should be the time to do the things that you always wanted, but you’ve never had the time to do them before because you were too busy working. With some creative brainstorming, you’ll discover some easy ways to finance your new lifestyle and start enjoying life for real.

Making Some Extra Moola! How to Increase Your Income as a Stay at Home Parent

Being a stay-at-home parent is a full-time job, but instead of earning a paycheck you are compensated with “the wheels on the bus” running on a loop in your head, sticky jelly covered fingers, and the ever-dreaded potty training. 

Silliness aside, the ability to stay-at-home with your children and be a part of their day to day lives is a gift but doesn’t always come easy. Most likely you were a two-income household before you had children, and while you can still live on one income having some extra money can make a huge difference, in not only your finances but also knowing that you are not just Mommy or Daddy.

Writing for Money

Writing from home can be done in many different ways. You could write a blog. Typically, people make money from their blogs by having sponsored advertisers or affiliate markers on their blog. 

If you would like a little more direction when you, write there are many online sites that pay for specific articles or website content. There is also a need for resume writers, proofreaders and copywriters.

Turn Your Hobby into a Business

There are many ways to monetize your hobby. There are online shops were people sell their handcrafted items. These sites don’t just offer sewing and crochet items. Many people sell artwork, premade scrapbook pages or kits, jewelry, handmade soaps, or candles. The possibilities are endless and you get to spend some time doing something that makes you happy and fulfilled.




If your hobby is more computer-driven, then there are many ways to make money from behind your screen. There is freelance graphic designing, creating websites, creating printable planner pages, launching and monetizing your own game, or organizational charts.

Do you like to cook? You could write and sell an eBook full of your favorite recipes. If a book seems overwhelming, you could sell individual recipes. There is a real need for recipes that follow a special diet (vegan, gluten-free, nut-free). You can also sell baked goods or specialized candies online.

Selling Old Items for Fast Cash

If you are looking to make some money quickly because your car is making a thumping noise, or your dryer seems to be taking a really long time to dry, then look no further than your very own house. 

You probably have toys that are no longer played with, clothes that have been grown out of, or gifts that you are just not going to use. Snap a picture and upload them to an online auction site or marketplace or gather them up and have a garage sale. 

They always say “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.” You could be sitting on a gold mine and not even realize it.

These ideas just scratch the service of what you can do to earn some extra cash. A little thought and some determination can have you working in no time.

How to Turn a Hobby into a Legitimate Source of Income

If you really want to take control of your own financial future, you’ve got to figure out how to work for yourself. While having a great business idea is nice, for some it’s better to find a way to turn a passion into an income-generating career. If you have a hobby, you’ll want to follow the steps below to determine how to turn it into your new job.

Look at the Market

Before you can turn a hobby into a job, you have to figure out how to monetize your hobby. There are dozens of different ways to do so, but the most successful tend to involve selling a product or a service. If you like to do a specific craft, for example, you can sell those crafts to collectors or enthusiasts. 

If you produce a particular type of art, you can sell to fans and those who collect that particular style. It’s rare that you’ll be paid simply for being talented, so take a look at the market and figure out the niche that works for you.

Invest in Yourself

Your next step in turning your hobby into a source of income will be making the necessary investments in your business. If you are selling directly to customers in a face to face market, for example, you’ll want one of the point-of-sale systems that allow you to personally process payments and track inventory. 




If you are selling online, on the other hand, you will need to invest the money in an eCommerce-friendly website. It can be scary to invest the money necessary to start a business, but you can’t move forward without doing so.

Maintaining Your Passion

Your final step will be figuring out how to maintain your passion when you move from doing something for fun to doing it for money. You’ll need to figure out how to treat your hobby like a job, including charging fair prices for your work and learning how to adhere to a schedule. 

The early days of turning a hobby into a job usually mean having to balance a second day job with your hobby, so you’ll also have to learn how to maintain your ability to perform in your new career with your ability to get paid at your other job.

Not every hobby can make you money. If you’ve got the drive, the talent, and the determination, you may be able to turn that at which you are talented into a lucrative business. If you set yourself up with the right tools and in the right place, you may even be able to make a living doing the things you love the most.