How to make extra money in the UK

Sometimes you just need a bit more coming in.

Maybe a bill went up. Maybe you want a small buffer, or a little extra to put aside each month.

Most guides answer this with a long list of apps. Apps are fine, but they are only part of the picture. Some of the best extra money is offline, and some of it is money you already have waiting for you.

This guide covers real ways to make extra money in the UK, online and offline. They are grouped by how you actually get the money, and how fast. It starts with the money you may already be owed, because that is the quickest win of all, and the one most lists skip.

1. How to claim the extra money you're already owed

Before you take on any work, it is worth checking whether money is already sitting with your name on it. Large sums go unclaimed in the UK every year, in refunds, compensation, and forgotten accounts.

This is the fastest extra money there is, because it is yours already. A few checks can take an afternoon and pay back far more than an hour of work.

• Tax rebates. You may have paid too much tax, often from a wrong tax code or work costs you can claim back. If you wear a uniform for work, you can claim a flat-rate allowance for washing it. Check your tax code and claim a refund on GOV.UK for free, and never pay a company a cut to do it for you.
• Delay and flight compensation. If a flight was delayed or cancelled, or a train was badly late, you may be able to claim money back. Airlines and train companies have set rules, and the claim is free to make yourself.
• Forgotten money. Old bank accounts, savings, and pensions you lost track of can be traced and reclaimed. Use the free services for dormant accounts and the Pension Tracing Service to find them.
• Council tax rebanding. Many homes were put in the wrong council tax band years ago. If yours is too high, you can ask for it to be checked, and a successful challenge can mean a refund going back years plus a lower bill from now on.
• Energy credit. If you pay by direct debit, you may have built up credit on your energy account over time, and if it is in credit, that balance is yours to claim back.

None of these are a regular income. But as a one-off, they can be worth far more than a month of side work, and the only cost is a little time. Once you have claimed what is yours, there are plenty of ways to earn extra money in the UK on top.

2. How to make more money in the UK

The money you already have can earn a little on its own. These take about an hour to set up, then need almost no effort.

• Bank switching bonuses. UK banks pay cash to win your account. Switching with the Current Account Switch Service can pay £175 or more, and you can switch again with other banks later.
• Cashback on normal spending. Cashback sites like TopCashback and Quidco, and some bank cards, pay you back a slice of what you spend on shopping you would do anyway. Set it up once and it runs in the background.
• Savings interest. Money sitting in a current account earns little. Move it to an easy access savings account or a regular saver, and the same money earns interest with no risk.

3. How to make extra money online in the UK

These methods earn over the internet, on your own time. Some need a skill, others just your spare minutes. We cover online earning in depth in other guides, so here is the short version.

• Freelancing. If you can write, design, translate, or build, freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr connect you with paying clients worldwide, and the pay can be good once you have built up a few reviews.
• Transcription and data entry. Type up audio recordings or enter data for businesses through sites like Rev, paid per file or per hour. It is steady, simple work that you can do from home at your own desk.
• Website and app testing. Sites like UserTesting pay you to try out websites and apps and say what you think out loud. Each test takes minutes and needs no special skill.
• Background apps. A few apps pay you to let your phone work in the background, with no tasks to do. Honeygain and Pawns.app pay for a slice of your spare internet data, and the Android-only Money SMS app pays €0.01 to €0.03 for each test SMS a regulated EU telecom company sends to your phone. None pay much, but the effort after setup is zero.

4. How to make extra money from home in the UK

These let you earn from your own home, around other commitments. They suit parents at home with young children, carers, and anyone short on spare hours.

• Online tutoring. If you know a subject well, you can teach students over video from home through sites like MyTutor, often £20 an hour or more. You set your own hours.
• Virtual assistant. Small businesses pay for help with email, scheduling, and admin tasks done remotely, often through sites like PeoplePerHour. If you are organised, you can pick up regular hours from home.
• Customer service from home. Many companies hire remote agents to answer calls, emails, and live chat. Shifts are often flexible, and the equipment is provided.

5. How to earn extra money renting out your space and stuff

If you own things that sit idle, other people will pay to use them. This can turn into a steady monthly income with little ongoing work. It is one of the better ways to build passive income in the UK, since the money keeps coming with very little effort from you.

• A spare room. Taking in a lodger is one of the biggest earners here. Under the Rent a Room Scheme you can earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free from letting a furnished room in your home.
• Your driveway or parking space. If you live near a station, a city centre, or a stadium, you can rent out your parking space by the day or month through apps like JustPark.
• Storage space. A spare garage, loft, or shed can be rented to people who need somewhere to keep their things, through peer-to-peer sites like Stashbee.
• Your car. When you are not using your car, car-sharing platforms like Turo let you rent it to checked drivers by the hour or day, with insurance included.
• Tools and equipment. Drills, ladders, camping gear, and party items can be hired out to neighbours through peer-to-peer sites like Fat Llama.
• Your home for film and TV. Location agencies pay to use real homes for film, TV, and photo shoots. It is occasional, but a day's shoot can pay well.

6. How to make extra money selling what you already own

Most homes have hundreds of pounds of unused stuff in them. Selling it is one of the oldest ways of earning extra money in the UK, and it raises cash quickly, online or in person.

• Online marketplaces. Apps like Vinted, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace let you sell clothes, gadgets, and household items to buyers across the country. Vinted has no seller fees in the UK, and most items sell within days.
• Car boot sales. A classic offline option. Pay a few pounds for a pitch, fill the car, and sell the lot in a morning for cash in hand. Best for clearing many small items at once.
• Cash for clothes by weight. Some shops and collection points pay you by the kilo for unwanted clothes. The pay per item is low, but it clears bags of old clothes fast and turns them into cash on the spot.
• Scrap metal and recycling. Scrap dealers pay cash by weight for old metal, cables, and broken appliances. Some shops also pay small deposits for cans and bottles. It is not much, but it is money for things you would throw away.
• Trade-in shops. Stores like CeX and services like Music Magpie buy phones, games, DVDs, and tech. The price is lower than selling it yourself, but it is quick, and you get paid the same day.

7. How to earn extra money from local services and odd jobs

If you have time and energy, local jobs pay well and often in cash. You set your own hours and take only the work that suits you. None of these need a qualification to start.

• Dog walking and pet sitting. Pet owners pay for daily walks, drop-in visits, and holiday sitting. Apps and local groups connect you with owners nearby.
• Babysitting and childcare. Parents pay for evening and weekend babysitting. Word of mouth and local apps are the usual way in.
• Cleaning. Regular home cleaning is steady, well-paid work, and you can book your clients around your own week.
• Ironing. Some people will happily pay to have a basket of ironing done. It is simple work you can do from home.
• Gardening. Mowing, weeding, and tidying are in demand, especially in spring and summer. You can start small with no special kit.
• Handyman jobs. Flat-pack furniture, small repairs, and odd jobs around the house are easy to pick up if you are practical.
• Car washing. Washing and cleaning cars on your street or for local businesses is quick to start and paid on the day.
• In-person tutoring. If you know a subject well, parents pay for face-to-face tutoring for their children, often £15 to £30 an hour.

8. How to make extra money from driving, delivery and gig work

If you have a car, a bike, or just a phone, gig platforms let you earn on a flexible schedule. They are a popular answer to how to earn more money in the UK around a day job, since you log on when you want and get paid for the work you do.

• Rideshare driving. Drive passengers in your own car through apps like Uber or Bolt. You need the right licence and insurance, but you choose your own hours.
• Food and parcel delivery. Deliver takeaways or parcels by car, bike, or on foot through apps like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Amazon Flex.
• Courier work. Larger or longer deliveries pay more than food drops, so they are worth it if you have a van or a reliable car.

9. How to earn extra money from seasonal and temporary work

Short bursts of work can bring in a useful lump sum without a long commitment. These come and go through the year, so they suit anyone who wants extra cash for a set period.

• Christmas retail. Shops, warehouses, and delivery firms take on extra staff from October to December. It is the biggest seasonal hiring period of the year.
• Warehouse shifts. Online retailers need temporary pickers and packers all year, with more around busy sale periods. Shifts are flexible and start quickly.
• Exam invigilation. Schools and colleges pay invigilators to supervise exams in the summer and winter exam seasons. It is quiet, low-pressure work.
• Election vote counting. When elections are held, councils pay people to staff polling stations and count votes. It is a one-day job that pays a set fee.
• Event and festival staff. Concerts, sports events, and festivals hire stewards, bar staff, and helpers, mostly in spring and summer.

10. How to get paid for taking part in research

Companies and universities pay ordinary people to share their views or take part in studies. It is one of the easier sides of making extra money in the UK, and the pay ranges from small amounts for a quick survey to a good sum for a full session.

• Paid surveys. Survey and panel sites like Prolific and Swagbucks pay small amounts for sharing your opinion in your spare minutes. The pay per survey is low, but they are quick and need no skill.
• Focus groups. Brands pay for small group discussions about products and adverts, in person or online, often through recruiters like Saros Research. A single session can pay £30 to £80 for an hour or two.
• Paid research and clinical trials. Medical research centres pay volunteers to take part in studies. The pay can be high, but always use registered, regulated centres and read what is involved first.
• Film and TV extra. Background actors are paid to appear in crowd scenes for films, TV, and adverts, with roles listed on sites like Mandy. The work is occasional, but no experience is needed.

11. How to make extra money in the UK as a woman

Every method in this guide is open to everyone. But a few earners are especially popular with women, and we have not covered them yet. Most are flexible, so they fit around childcare and other commitments.

• Sell things you make. If you knit, bake, make candles, or craft jewellery, sites like Etsy and Folksy and local craft fairs turn a hobby into sales, and you set the prices and work at a pace that suits you.
• Rent out your wardrobe. Fashion rental sites like By Rotation and HURR let you hire out dresses, bags, and accessories you rarely wear, so you keep the items and earn a fee each time they go out.
• Beauty and hair from home. If you are trained in nails, lashes, brows, hair, or makeup, you can take clients at home or travel to them, and it pays well per appointment with hours that fit around your week.
• Direct selling. Brands like Avon let you earn commission selling products to people you know, online or in person. Start-up costs are low, but what you earn depends on the time and effort you put in.
• Mystery shopping. Companies pay you to visit shops, cafes, or salons and report back on the service. The fee is small, but you often keep the product or meal too.
• Make content for brands. Brands pay everyday people to film short product videos for social media, known as UGC. You do not need a big following, just a phone and clear, honest clips.

A note on tax on your extra income in the UK

Most extra income is taxable in the UK, but a generous allowance lets you earn a fair amount first. Knowing it saves you both tax and paperwork.

If your untaxed extra income goes over £1,000 in a tax year, you usually need to register for Self Assessment with HMRC and file a return, then keep simple records of what you earn through the year.

Frequently asked questions