IF YOU are feeling stressed because you are strapped for cash so early on in 2018, here are 10 easy ways to make extra cash.
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A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that around 30% of the population are living below the nationally-recognised minimum income standard.
It is no secret that many of us are struggling to make ends meet.
But, it is never too late to learn a few more tips on how to make extra cash.
Here consumer awareness website Which? share some easy ways to make money in 2018.
1. Gift cards
Did you receive loads of gift cards over Christmas you still haven’t used? Or were you given a load of them on your birthday?
Websites such as Zapper and Zeek promise to buy the gift cards off you – leaving you with the hard cash.
Zapper will buy unused gift cards for around a quarter of the gift card’s face value.
Zeek is a marketplace website that will allow you to set your own price.
2. Rent our your spare room
Renting or buying property is one of the thing that zaps the most cash out of our wallets. But if you have a spare room, you can make some of that money back.
Through the government’s rent-a-room scheme you can rent out your spare room tax free.
You can earn up to £7,500 per year in rental income this way – without forking out for income tax.
3. Get paid to switch current account
Many banks will award you for switching accounts – which is something you could take advantage of.
It takes just seven working days to switch, and some banks will pay you for doing it.
You can earn £125 from Halifax for switching, First Direct will give you £100, M&S are offering £185 gift cards when you switch while HSBC will pay you £150 to switch, plus another £50 if you stay for 12 months.
4. Earn cashback while food shopping
There are various cashback websites you can use to earn money every time you shop – such as Quidco and TopCashback.
Quidco claim on their website that over 7 million people in the UK have joined since 2005 – sharing over £400 million in cashback.
The average active member can pocket around £300 per year. All you have to do is take picture of your receipt and upload it to the app to snap up money.
5. Be smart with your savings
If you have a lump sum of money you should make sure it is in the best savings account.
Check the interest rate on your account and do some research to find out if you could be earning more.
For example, if you have £1,500 in an easy access account which is paying 0.1% you will earn £1.50 a year.
If you switch to a 1.3% deal you could earn a more respectable £19.50.
You should consider a high-interest current account if you want a better rate.
6. Sell your pictures
You could make some extra cash by selling your snaps on stock imagery sites.
If you have taken any good pictures of landscapes, animals or inanimate objects you could make money from them.
Stock image sites such as Shutterstock, Alamy and 123RF pay overtime members download the images you have uploaded.
7. Rent out your parking space
Do you have a parking space but no car to go with it? Your unused drive or parking space could be earning you money.
Just Park allows you to advertise your space and set the price you think is fair.
A £5 parking space would be brilliant for a commuter – and could earn you over £1,300 in just a year.
8. Use a cashback credit card
Cashback credit cards are a good way to save money on your everyday spends.
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card will offer you 5% cashback (up to £100) in your first three months.
Others will give you up to 1% on fuel and supermarket spending.
The rates vary, but if you stick at it you could earn a fair bit of cash
9. Refer a friend
Many companies will award loyalty, and they are even more keen on you bringing a few friends with you.
And some businesses are even wiling to pay you to spread the word.
Nationwide will pay you £100 if you refer a friend to their current accounts.
10. Sell your skills
You may be amazing at DIY – but there are millions that aren’t.
Taskrabbit is a marketplace which connects together people who need a specific skill – with the people who have it.
All you need to do it set up your profile, together with your fee – and wait to be contacted.