These creative ways to pay off debt can help you when money is tight. Of course, one way to help with debt is simply making more money.
That’s what this list is. Fifteen ways to bring in extra cash on the side, so you can put all of it toward what you owe.
None of them will make you rich. But a few hundred extra bucks a month, every month, takes years off a payoff plan. Pick the two or three that fit your schedule and skip the rest.
Repaying your debt
You can only cut your spending so far. Once the budget is tight, the faster way out is to earn more and send every extra dollar to your highest-interest balance first.
You don’t need a second job with a boss and a schedule. Most of these you can do in your spare time, and plenty of them from home.
Creative ways to pay off debt
Here are some realistic ways you can pay off your debt:
1. Drive with Lyft
If you want to make legitimate money quickly, driving with Lyft is a smart side hustle.
You drive people around your city on your own schedule. What you make depends on your city and when you drive, so don’t count on a set number. Once you’ve earned it you can cash out fast: Lyft’s Express Pay gets the money to you in about an hour or two.
The smartest way to earn more is to drive when demand is highest. You might have guessed that’s when people are out and about most (weekday & weekend nights).
So instead of partying up this weekend, why not make money with Lyft?
2. Web design
A lot of small businesses need a website and have no idea how to build one. If you have the skills, you can offer web design or similar services to individuals and businesses.
This is work you can do at a time that suits you. You can meet with clients on a video call or by email and finish the whole job from your kitchen table.
3. Freelance writer
If you enjoy researching and writing, this is another one you can do from home in your spare time.
The money gets steady once you have a few regular clients, so it’s well worth trying if you can write clearly and hit a deadline. You’ll find all sorts of writing gigs posted by clients online.
4. Rent your car when you’re not using it
Driving for Lyft is legit. But, I can’t always do drive people around with my schedule.
I have 2 other jobs and that means my car is just sitting in the parking lot 15 hours a day.
Being the smart side hustler I am, I turned to make money with my idle car and you can too.
You’ve got an asset if you have a car, so why not make money with it? Car sharing apps like Turo let you list your car and rent it out to other drivers when you aren’t using it.
How much you make depends on your car, where you live and how many days you can share it. Read the insurance and protection terms closely before you list, and check that your auto lender and your own insurer allow it.
5. Host guests with Airbnb
Another smart way to make extra money is by listing your space on Airbnb.
It’s free to create a listing, and Airbnb has an earnings estimator on its hosting page so you can do some quick research before you commit.
You set your own price. Of course, the nicer your home and location the better. Check your lease and your local short-term rental rules first, because plenty of cities and landlords restrict it.
However, you don’t even need a spare room to earn with Airbnb, since you can also host “experiences“.
If you ever had friends from out of town visit and you showed them the cool things to do in your city, now you can get paid for doing just that… for strangers.
6. Download Nielsen Panel on your devices
By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference, and you can make money too.
You don’t really have to do anything other than register your devices and leave the app installed. You earn points each week that you can redeem for up to $60 a year in rewards ($30 for mobile and $30 for computer).
That won’t pay off a credit card. It’s also about as passive as it gets.
They also keep things interesting for me since they give away a modest $10,000 each month. I like to think I have better chances of getting it than the lottery, so consider it a free lotto ticket each month, too.
If you are interested in getting paid passively, you can sign up through here.
7. Deliver Groceries
You can also make money by delivering groceries.
Instacart delivers groceries from local stores. As a shopper, you get orders through an app on your phone, shop for them and bring them to the customer’s door.
You pick your own hours, which makes it easy to fit around a day job. Pay varies by order and by market, so try it for a couple of weeks and see what your area really pays before you plan a budget around it.
8. Fill out surveys and try reward apps
There are sites and apps that pay you for filling out surveys, testing apps and playing games. You earn a little for each task and cash out once it adds up.
Freecash is the one to start with. You get paid for surveys, for hitting milestones in games and for trying apps, and you can withdraw to PayPal, Venmo or gift cards.
For plain surveys, there’s Survey Junkie and Swagbucks. I’ve used Survey Junkie on and off for years. It’s worth signing up for. I check what’s good when I have off time.
You won’t get rich, but you will earn some money and that’s what this article is all about.
You will find more information and more recommended survey sites and ways to earn money in this article on the best money apps.
9. Sell your old clothes
If you have a lot of old clothes you haven’t worn in years and honestly don’t know why you keep, sell them. There are websites like eBay and plenty of selling apps that can help you get rid of clothes, shoes and accessories you don’t use.
Don’t want to deal with shipping? Organize a garage sale with your neighbors. You declutter your closet and make some money in one weekend.
10. Sign up for Rakuten
If you enjoy shopping online and always look for the best deals, Rakuten is a solid choice to make money the easy way.
Rakuten gives you money back on your purchases made. To get started all you need to do is register and before you shop next time, visit Rakuten first then your favorite store after. I do this every time I shop online because Rakuten works with almost every online store I can think of.
One thing to keep straight: cash back is only a win on things you were going to buy anyway. Spending more to earn more cash back doesn’t pay off any debt. Sign up for Rakuten here
11. Sell on Shopify
Use your creativity to make money if you know how to make personalized items! You can sell T-shirts, mugs, pillows and sweatshirts with custom designs on Etsy or in your own online store.
I’ve got a friend that creates art and he can charge whatever he wants. It’s all about building a brand people want to buy from. You can use social media to promote yourself, and you can learn more by visiting Shopify and Etsy.
12. Teach English online
Tutoring is a good option if you have your afternoons or evenings free.
One of the best-known companies for teaching English online is EF Education First. Its online teachers work with adult learners, and you choose when you teach.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree (in any field), fluent English and an accredited TEFL certificate of at least 40 hours. EF doesn’t post an hourly rate. It says pay is based on your skills and market demand, so ask what the rate is before you sign anything.
13. Offer your services on Fiverr
From the comfort of your home, you can earn money online using Fiverr. You create an account, list a service and set your own price.
Thanks to the large number of categories, you can offer almost anything: logo design, website design, proofreading, writing articles, voiceovers, or something a lot less conventional.
One of the advantages of Fiverr is that it allows you to manage your own time and schedule. If you want to know more about how to make money with Fiverr, you can visit the site here.
14. Download Upside
Have you ever dreamed of paying less for gas each week? With Upside (you might remember it as GetUpside) you earn cash back on gas, groceries and restaurants. I heard about this app on the radio and decided to try it out for myself.
The system is simple: you open the free app and claim an offer at a station or store near you, then pay with your credit or debit card like you normally would. The cash back lands in your Upside account. I’ve been using Upside for years. I’m surprised I don’t hear about this app more often though, I make a killing with it:
How much you get back depends on the offers near you and how much you drive. You can cash out to your bank account or pick a gift card. You can get the app here.
15. Get paid to be healthy
Do all your friends post flashy Instagram pictures and look amazingly good?
Even if they don’t, I wanted to get fit and make it a habit, but it was tough to get started.
What helped me lose over 10 pounds was when I had my own money on the line.
In fact, I was able to do with HealthyWage, and won $1,050 after losing only 10 pounds.
So if you need some extra motivation, head over to HealthyWage to learn more.
You’ll have to decide on how much weight you want to lose and how long you need to reach your goal. You then bet on yourself and can win up to $10,000 depending on your HealthyWager.
Know the catch before you sign up. It’s your own money on the line, and if you miss your goal you can lose it. Don’t bet money you need for a debt payment.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: more income is the fastest way to speed up a debt payoff, and you don’t need all 15 of these to do it.
Pick one you can start this week. Then send every dollar it makes straight to your highest-interest debt before it has a chance to turn into spending money. It’s all up to you now.