Four ways to make some cash on the side

Many people are feeling the pinch after a Christmas nobody wanted to compromise on, and before that a year (or two!) that was a financial challenge in a lot of cases. While relying on steady income and holding onto regular work as much as possible is usually the best way to stay out of the red, there are always avenues to explore that can bring home a bit of extra cash – especially in the age of the Internet.

With that in mind, here are some possible ideas for those who want to make a quid or two on the side.

Cashback websites

There are various reputable (and some less so) companies that offer cashback for purchases made via their online widget or app. All the buyer needs to do is click through the cashback provider when they make an online purchase from an affiliated business and the transaction will be saved. Shortly afterwards (time frames vary by company and amount) a percentage of the purchase price will be awarded back to the customer as cashback. Amounts can range from a tiny percentage to pretty significant funds, depending on the provider and the sale price. Top Cashback is a great place to start and it’s easy to find more with a quick Google.

Online games

There are lots of ways to make money from playing online games (though it can get risky), and a huge range of options to play, from shoot-em-ups to sports games – and even slot machine online UK games. Apart from the more traditional ways of making money, there are also sites such as Mistplay that offer points per game played, regardless of the player’s success, which can later be converted into gift cards and sometimes actual money.

Freelance apps

Freelance apps like Fiverr offer those with specialist and sometimes even not so specialist skills the chance to bid to provide their services for businesses and individuals. For example, a business looking for some promotional photos can find freelance photographers, or an self-publishing writer looking to release an ebook can find voiceover artists and ask them to quote for their services. There are also professional courses on offer, translation services, tech support and more, and payments are managed safely by the platform.

Clinical trials

The braver hustler might like to consider clinical trials for new drugs and treatments, and the prospect of helping save lives might appeal. In order to obtain a license for a new medicine, the pharmaceutical company that wants to produce it must first conduct research into the medicine. Services such as Trials4Us conduct or assist with medical research and offer willing subjects the chance to help in the development of new treatments for a range of conditions (including diabetes, heart failure and cancer) in return for a fee. Effects of the medicine are closely monitored so that participants are as safe as possible.

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