Here's the deal. Anyone who has a bit of spare time and access to the internet can create an alternative income stream and make a bit of money online. The trick is to go with what you can do, what you would enjoy, and what is available to you at this time.
Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that there is money to be made dog sitting. The premise is pretty simple. Pet owners want to go away for a while, but they don't want to leave their canine companion at home alone, or take it to an unknown kennel where it could be uncomfortable and mistreated.
Your job is to look after the owner's dogs, feeding them and taking them for a walk. If the property is nearby, you may be able to stay at home and call in daily, but if not the arrangement is usually such that you stay at the owner's home for the duration.
You could also consider dog walking. Though generally not as lucrative, this is an excellent little side-earner for anyone who enjoys strolling in the countryside, and wants to get paid for it. Babysitting and au pairing also fall into this category of alternative income.
The initial online poker buzz has long died down, but there is still money to be made playing online poker, and sites like 888poker still hold tournaments with prize pools of tens of thousands of dollars. If you would rather play at a casino, there are also plenty of live games to choose from in many major cities, but poker professionals consider the online world to be most lucrative.
Of course, it takes a lot of effort to get good enough at poker to make long term profits, and the game can involve a lot of ups and downs along the way. It's not everyone's ideal income stream, but it is possible for those with the patience to succeed.
I'm not going to try to tell you that becoming a successful freelancer is easy. Like any meaningful endeavor, it requires time and effort to secure well paid jobs with decent clients.
What makes freelancing accessible, is that all you need to get started is a skill or talent that you can put to good use. The online marketplace is wide open, and thousands of projects are posted daily in categories such as writing, web and graphic design, translation, programming, illustration, marketing and more.
Along with the most popular jobs, there are many more ways to make money freelancing, so don't restrict yourself; if you can do something well then somebody probably wants to pay for it.
If your specialities and talents fall outside of freelancing, or you want to take a different approach, then consider teaching what you know in a live format, either at home or online.
If you play guitar, offer up guitar lessons locally. If you are fluent in a foreign language, find some students who want to learn it. If you have a lot of knowledge around a particular subject, consider teaching pupils to help them with exams. The key is to tap into your own skill-set.
Property rental is an incredible way to make money, but it can be difficult to raise the capital, comply with regulations, and deal with maintenance. If you have a full property to rent full time, then great, but not everyone has this option. Thankfully, there are more accessible options.
If you have a spare room, you could rent it out for the year for a few thousand dollars or so, depending on where you live. Use house-sharing websites or talk to an estate agent to find out more about how to do this.
If you want to rent a room, or you whole home temporarily, websites like Air B&B can bring in quick and easy income. You can even rent out your driveway or garage for parking!