Easy ways to make money for kids

40+ Alternative Income Ideas and Resources

When I wrote Building, Diversifying, and Shifting Your Income Streams, there was an important element that I left out. That element was some practical real life ideas about how you can start building alternative income streams today. It is worth noting that not all of these are passive income ideas, so you will actually have to actively work for these income streams to grow.

In compiling this list, I did my best to avoid any sort of scams, and stay with practical ideas that work. I have not used all of these ideas, but I have used, or am using, many in this list.

Also, it’s important to note that some ideas may be worthwhile for you, some may not, depending on your financial situation.

Alternative Income Ideas:

In addition to basic ideas such as starting a business, getting a second job, and learning how to invest here are money making ideas you can try:

1. Build a CD Ladder using high yield certificates of deposit.
2. Switch to a higher interest savings account.
3. Lend money on social lending networks.
4. Sell used books and textbooks
5. Use cash back reward credit cards strategically
6. Sign up for Cash Crate, complete surveys, and refer your friends
7. Freelancing — e.g., GoFreelance.com, Elance, Guru, RentACoder, Amazon Mechanical Turk, etc.
8. Get cash rebates when shopping online using Ebates, and refer your friends for $5 each.
9. Make money blogging. You can learn more about blogging and start one. Here are some more good articles to start you off:
   • How to Start a Blog for Fun or Profit – Introduction to a Series at Cash Money Life
   • 28 Ways to Make Money with Your Website at Daily Blog Tips
10. Write for money — e.g., Squidoo, Associated Content, Triond, etc.
11. Becomes a landlord, or a real estate investor — e.g., rent out parking spaces, rooms, investment properties, etc.
12. Offer basic services — e.g., babysitting, housekeeping, gardening, painting, etc.
13. Offer skilled services — e.g., tutoring, resume writing, business consulting, blog development, logo design, etc.
14. Turn your hobbies into income streams — e.g., photography, videography, quilting, etc.
15. Perform your searches with Swagbucks.com and earn prizes.
16. Manage virtual portfolios and earn real money with UpDown.com and Wall Street Survivor.
17. Sell handmade products on Etsy
18. Write and sell eBooks
19. Ghostwriting
20. Enter contests and giveaways (use Google Alerts) and sell the prizes
21. Search for freebies and sign-up bonuses.
22. Turn your everyday spending into college savings with Upromise
23. Play the credit card arbitrage game (note: this is too risky for my tastes)
24. Becomes an Amazon Associate, and ask your friends to use your affiliate link to buy things
25. Sell unused items on eBay or Craigslist; or buy bulk items and resell them individually
26. Sell your collectibles
27. Start a bulk candy vending machine business
28. Mystery shopping
29. Find missing money — MissingMoney, Where’s My Refund, TreasuryHunt, PBGC database, and GovBenefits.gov
30. Create and sell CafePress T-shirts, and check out this creative idea from I Wear Your Shirt.
31. Set up niche online store — i.e., Amazon.com aStore or eBay Niche Store.
32. Participate in paid focus group studies.
33. Sell your body parts and fluids.
34. Collect cans and bottles for recycling.
35. Dog walking.

Alternative Income Resources:

1. 52 Ways to Make Extra Money at Prime Time Money
2. My Sources Of Alternative Income And How I Make Them Work For Me at My Two Dollars
3. Multiple Income Streams: 10 Ways to Earn Extra Income at The Dough Roller
4. Everyman’s Guide to $30 / Month in Passive Income at Four Pillars
5. How to Make Your Income More Passive at Frugal Dad
6. 5 Ways To Make Some Extra Money at Bible Money Matters
7. Spend less than you earn – the wrong way to think at Brip Blap
8. A Guide to Making Passive Income at Freelance Switch
9. 20+ Free Passive Income Resources at Life Optimizer
10. Passive Income: How to Earn More and Work Less at About.com
11. 8 Ways To Earn Passive Income Online at iSiteBuild.com
12. Five Ways to Create Passive Income With Little or No Money at Genius Types
13. Automate Your Income to Simplify Your Life at Zen Habits
14. Passive Income is the Key to Freedom and Retirement at All Financial Matters
15. 11 Great Ways to Earn More Money at Free Money Finance
16. Defining Alternative Income at Lazy Man and Money
17. Ten Ways to Translate Your Passion Into Additional Income at The Simple Dollar
18. 50+ Resources to Legitimately Raise Your Income at My Super-Charged Life
19. 40 Ways to Make Money on the Internet at Dumb Little Man
20. 102 Ways To Generate Extra Cash at Savings Advice

If you like this article, be sure to check out my Extra Income Guide.

The Carnival of Personal Finance #143 – Oh Canada Edition hosted by Quest For Four Pillars.