15 ways to make extra money while working full-time

Ever dream of a bigger bank balance? You’re not alone.

Over 55% of UK workers planned to take on a side hustle last year, with extra income as the main driving factor.

Many of us want that extra bit of money to enjoy more freedom, or even pay the ever-increasing bills!

But when you’re already working full-time, it might seem like a tough nut to crack.

Well, the good news is that it’s absolutely possible to earn extra income while holding down a full-time job!

Let’s dive into how you can make this dream a reality.

Transcription services

If you’re good at listening and can type at a decent pace, transcription can be an okay way to earn extra money around a full-time job.

The job is simple. You listen to recordings like interviews or meetings and type out what’s being said. Most people do this at home, in the evenings or at weekends.

Here’s the honest bit. Pay is usually listed per hour of audio, often around £15 to £30. That does not mean you’ll earn that in an hour. When you’re new, one hour of audio can take a few hours to type out, especially if the sound isn’t great.

Once you get quicker, it gets more worthwhile. Until then, it’s steady work rather than fast money.

This suits people who don’t want to sell anything, don’t want phone calls, and are happy trading a bit of free time for extra cash.

Online customer service

Some companies take on people to handle customer service from home, often in the evenings or at weekends. The work usually means answering emails, live chat messages, or taking calls from customers who need help.

Most roles pay around £10 to £12 an hour. You can earn closer to £13–£15 if you’ve got experience, you’re on the phones, or you’re working later shifts.

This is not casual work. Shifts are usually set, and you’re expected to be logged in and available the whole time.

This can work well if you want reliable extra money and don’t mind talking to customers after a long day at work.

Freelance writing or blogging

If you enjoy writing, you can earn extra money by writing for other people or by running your own blog.

Freelance writing means being paid to write articles, guides, or website content. Pay varies a lot. Some jobs offer very little, while better clients might pay £30 to £60 per article, and more if you’ve got experience or specialist knowledge. Anything at the very low end is usually a time drain.

Blogging is different. You write for yourself and earn money through ads, links to products, or paid posts. The downside is that it takes time. Many blogs earn nothing at first, and progress can be slow.

This suits people who already like writing and are happy playing the long game, rather than needing quick cash straight away.

Online surveys and reviews

Online surveys let you earn a bit of extra cash by sharing your opinions or testing products. You usually answer questions about shopping, habits, or adverts, or leave short reviews.

Sites like Swagbucks and PrizeRebel pay small amounts per task. To make it worthwhile, most people sign up to several sites and dip in when they’ve got spare time.

If you’re not sure whether surveys are even worth bothering with, we’ve broken that down properly here: Are paid surveys worth your time?

This is low-paid work. For many people, it works out at £10 to £40 a month. You might earn closer to £100 if you’re lucky with surveys and stick with it, but it’s slow going.

This suits filling small gaps of time, like waiting around or watching TV. It won’t replace a wage, but it can cover a few extras without much effort.

Read next: Best paid surveys to earn money online in 2026

Cashback and rewards

Cashback sites give you money back when you shop online, switch providers, or take out things like insurance. You click through the site first, buy as normal, and get a bit of the cost back later.

How much you earn depends on what you’re already spending. Some months it might be just a few pounds. Other months, especially when buying insurance or sorting big bills, it can be £20 to £50 or more.

This isn’t extra work. If you’re already buying something online, using a cashback site is an easy win. It’s basically money back on spending you were doing anyway.

This works best for everyday shopping and big annual costs, and it’s one of the simplest habits to build if you haven’t already.

Read next: Best cashback sites to earn £100s from shopping online

E-commerce

E-commerce means selling products online. That could be things you make yourself or items you buy and resell through platforms like Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, or eBay.

For most people, this starts slow. You might make a few pounds at first while you work things out. If a product takes off, you could make a few hundred a month. Big numbers do happen, but they’re not the norm.

Some stories talk about earning £1,000 to £5,000 a month, but that usually means a lot more than evening work. There’s stock to manage, orders to pack, customer messages to answer, and problems to fix when things go wrong.

This suits people who are happy testing ideas, dealing with ups and downs, and putting time in before seeing steady money. It can work, but it’s not quick or easy cash.

Read next: 10 best things to buy and sell for profit

Freelance work

If you’ve got a skill you can offer, freelance platforms let you sell your time in your spare hours. That could be writing, design work, admin tasks, social media help, or tech support.

Sites like Fiverr and Upwork let you create a profile and apply for work. At first, it can be slow going while you build reviews. Once you’ve got a few jobs under your belt, things get easier.

Many people earn £100 to £300 a month doing this alongside a full-time job. With the right skills and steady work, some push past £1,000, but that takes time and effort.

This works best if you already have a skill you can offer and you’re happy putting in some upfront work before the money feels reliable.

Sell unwanted items

Selling things you no longer need is one of the quickest ways to make extra money. Have a clear-out and list items on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Clothes, gadgets, toys, and small furniture can all sell well.

If you need money quickly, selling things you already own is often the fastest option. We’ve broken that down properly here.

Some people take it further by “flipping”. That means buying cheap items from car boot sales or charity shops and selling them on for more. It can work, but it’s trial and error, and not everything makes a profit.

How much you earn depends on what you’ve got to sell and how often you do it. Some months it might be £10 or £20. Other times, especially after a big clear-out, it could be hundreds.

This works best as a quick cash boost and a way to declutter, rather than something to rely on every month.

Read next: Stop throwing away money: what your empty boxes are really worth

Rent out your space

If you’ve got spare space, renting it out can bring in regular extra money. That could be a spare room listed on Airbnb or SpareRoom, or something smaller like a parking space, garage, or storage area.

How much you earn depends on where you live and how often it’s used. Some people make £200 to £500 a month. In busy areas or with steady demand, it can be more.

This isn’t hands-off. You’ll be dealing with bookings, messages, and having someone use your space. It also means checking any rules linked to your home before you start.

This works best if you’ve got unused space and you’re comfortable sharing it in exchange for extra cash each month.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing means sharing links to products you genuinely rate. If someone clicks your link and buys, you earn a small cut.

Most people do this through a blog, social media, or email list. It starts very slowly. Many earn nothing at first, and that’s normal.

With time, consistency, and an audience that trusts you, it can grow. Some people make £100 a month. A smaller number go much higher, but that usually comes after a lot of effort.

This suits people who already enjoy sharing tips or recommendations and are happy building something in the background, rather than needing fast money straight away.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping means running an online shop where someone else holds the stock and ships the orders. You handle the website, pricing, and customers.

On paper, it sounds simple. In reality, it’s crowded and hard to get right. Many people make nothing, especially at the start. Some lose money paying for ads before they ever get a sale.

A few people do well, but that usually comes after testing products, tweaking prices, dealing with refunds, and spending time and money learning what works.

This suits people who are happy taking risks, learning through mistakes, and accepting that there may be no payoff for a while. It’s not easy money, and it’s not guaranteed.

Print on demand

Print on demand lets you sell custom designs on things like t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs. You upload the design, and the platform handles printing, posting, and returns.

It’s easy to start, but sales are not guaranteed. Many people upload a few designs and make little or nothing. If a design clicks, you might make £50 to £100 a month. A smaller number earn more, usually because they keep adding designs or already have an audience.

This suits people who enjoy design or creative ideas and don’t mind slow progress. It’s low risk, but it’s also low reward for most.

Online tutoring

Online tutoring means helping others learn a subject you’re confident in, usually through video calls or online chat. This could be school subjects, exam prep, or even skills like languages.

Most tutors earn around £10 to £20 an hour to start with. If you teach a subject that’s in high demand, or you’ve got experience, that can rise to £25 or more.

Sessions are often booked in advance, so this fits best if you can commit to set times in the evenings or at weekends.

This suits people who enjoy explaining things, are patient, and want fairly decent pay for a few focused hours each week.

Create an online course

Creating an online course means teaching something you know through videos, worksheets, or lessons that people can buy online.

You upload the course to platforms like Udemy or Coursera, and they handle payments and access. The hard part is making the course and getting people to find it.

Many courses earn little or nothing at first. Some settle at £50 to £200 a month once they gain traction. A small number do much better, but that usually comes after a lot of effort and promotion.

This suits people who are happy putting work in upfront and waiting to see results, rather than needing extra cash straight away.

Photography

If you enjoy taking photos, you can upload them to stock photo websites where businesses buy images for websites, adverts, and social media.

Each sale pays a small amount, so progress is slow at first. Many people earn £10 to £30 a month once they’ve built up a few photos. Earnings can grow if you keep uploading and focus on images that people actually need.

This works best if you already take photos regularly and don’t mind waiting for results. It’s more of a long-term drip of income than quick cash.

All of the figures above are rough guides. Some people will earn less, some more, and a lot depends on time, luck, and how well something suits you.

The best approach is to try one or two ideas and see how they feel in real life. You’ll quickly learn what fits around work, what drains your energy, and what’s worth sticking with.

Even small bits of extra money can help. Done regularly, one evening habit can ease pressure on the bills, build a buffer, or give you a bit more breathing room each month.

Tips to get you started

Doing something extra in the evenings alongside a full-time job can help take the edge off money worries. It won’t always feel easy at first, but small steps can make a real difference.

Here are a few simple tips to help you begin.

Start with what you already know
Think about what you’re good at or don’t mind doing. You don’t need a big passion project. Something practical that fits your life is often best.

Have a quick look around first
Spend a bit of time checking how others are doing it and what’s realistic. A short search can save you wasting time on things that won’t suit you.

Keep it small at the start
You don’t need to go all in. Try one idea, see how it feels, and build from there if it works for you.

Be honest about your time
After a full day of work, energy matters. Choose something that fits around your life, not something that takes over it.

Stick with it, but don’t force it
Some things take a while to pay off. Give it a fair go, but if it’s making life harder, it’s okay to stop and try something else.

Use the extra money well
Even small amounts can help. Putting it towards bills, savings, or a bit of breathing room each month all count.

You don’t need to do everything. One idea that works for you is enough.

Quick questions people usually ask

Do I need to tell my boss?

Sometimes. Check your contract first. Some jobs have rules about second work, especially if it overlaps with what you already do. If in doubt, it’s better to know than guess.

Do I have to pay tax on extra income?

In the UK, you can earn up to £1,000 a year from casual or side income before needing to tell HMRC. Go over that and you’ll need to declare it. It’s simpler than people think, but it’s worth checking early so nothing catches you out.

What if I don’t have much spare time?

That’s normal. Most people doing this are tired. The ideas in this list work best when you pick one small thing and fit it around real life, not force evenings you don’t have.

What if it starts doing better than my job?

That’s a good problem to have, but there’s no rush. Full-time jobs come with things like paid holidays and sick pay, which side work doesn’t. Take your time and make decisions when the money is steady, not just exciting.

What to take away

You don’t need a big plan or loads of spare time to earn a bit more money. Most people doing this are just finding one thing that fits around work and sticking with it.

Some ideas won’t suit you. Others might surprise you. That’s normal.

If one small change helps cover a bill, build a buffer, or ease the pressure even slightly, that’s progress. Start with what feels manageable, give it a fair go, and see where it leads.

Extra money rarely comes from doing everything. It usually comes from doing one thing, consistently.