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Top 5 Hustles to Bring in Extra Money

Sometimes you can use every frugal trick in the book and still come up a little short at the end of the month. The only answer left is to bring in more money.

You might not think you have any skills at all, but here are some options that could make you some extra dough, if you can just find a little time to devote to them.

Are You Crafty?

Think outside the box a little — are you an excellent sewer or knitter? So good you can even make your own patterns? You could advertise your skills as a seamstress on Craigslist and pick up some money hemming and repairing items when you get home from your day job at night. If you’re really good at it and can undercut the larger companies a little, taking on jobs like hemming wedding dresses can be really lucrative.

Maybe photography is more your thing? If you take decent photos there are lots of things you can try to do with them — sell them as stock photos, sell the prints through Etsy or even join up with a group like mom365 where you can freelance as a photographer in hospitals taking pictures of newborns.

Are You Really Organized?

If you get a rush from seeing receipts organized, know you are in the minority. Lots of people don’t like to deal with the little details of life and are willing to pay others to do it for them.

Think of something else you like to do and see if you can pair it with the skills required to organize it. Do you love traveling? You can start a little side company that organizes other people’s trips — from European sojourns to day trips white water rafting. Just make sure all the details are set and tack an “agent fee” for your time.

For stay-at-home moms and anyone else looking for something remote, being a virtual assistant could help you make ends meet. You organize someone’s schedule and take care of all the little tasks any assistant does, but you can do it remotely.

Are You Willing to Be More Hands On?

If you work a typical 9-to-5 job and don’t mind channeling your inner teenager, you can still pick up some extra cash by taking on a few waitressing shifts, babysitting or doing yardwork for others.

If you like animals, you could offer your services as a pet sitter, either stopping by other folks’ homes to feed their cats or letting a dog or two live with you when they go on vacation. Even if you don’t want pets invading your home, you can start a dog walking service.

Are You Good With Technology?

If you know how to code and build websites, there is a gigantic market for that. Blogging is exploding and while everyone has plenty to say, very few people know how the blogging platforms actually work. Start building a resume among them and before you know it, you can also approach bigger companies for freelance work too. Everyone’s got a website these days.

Another high demand computer skill is graphic design. You can set up shop with easily customizable logos on Fiverr or go completely unique and specialized somewhere like Etsy.

Do You Have a Lot of Stuff?

Listing anything you haven’t used in a year on eBay is a good way to declutter and bring in some extra cash, but you probably haven’t thought of renting your car out to other people, which is a real thing!

If you have a home with an extra room, you can turn it into an Airbnb rental or take in an exchange student for a year.

Are You Willing to Get Some Training?

If you can manage to set aside $50 to $300 for a training program, then taking courses can provide you with skills to make enough hustling money that you soon make back your investment. Possibilities include training to be a masseuse, lifeguard, notary, bar tender, transcriptionist or personal trainer.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If you don’t want to or can’t curb your spending habits, the answer is to bring in more money!

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Top 5 Hustles to Bring in Extra Money originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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