Lifestyle Opinions

May 19, 2023

by: Alyssa Velasquez

Summer is ideal for hanging out and having fun with family and friends.

But, when the pockets are hurting for money, summer may not seem so fun, but don’t worry,

There are still plenty of ways to earn some extra cash.

1. Sell your clothes online

Clothes that are too small or simply out of style for your liking can definitely be put up for sale.

Apps like Mercari, Depop, or Poshmark can be a great tool to help you earn some cash.

Research each website to see which one will benefit you the most.

If you are skeptical about selling online, you can always post clothes on your Instagram stories and see if anyone of your friends or followers will swipe up and buy them. 

2. Have a yard sale

I know when we think of yard sales, we see our grandmother trying to get rid of random antiques and rugs and a bunch of stuff that went out of style a century ago, but the idea of selling your unwanted clothes and/or decor is not such a bad idea.

You can even partner up with some friends or cousins and compile all your stuff together and you can keep track of whatever was sold from your pile and at the end, split the money into how much each person earned from the items that they sold.

3. Sell your stuff at your nearest Plato’s Closet

If you live by Plato’s, you can walk into the store and tell an employee you want to sell some clothing items.

Keep in mind that the amount they give you for your clothes is a very little amount, from about $3-$8 dollars depending on what they are in need most of.

Sometimes, they may not take any of your items so, I wouldn’t rely too much on this method.

4. Recycle cans

Growing up, I always went with my dad on the weekends to take the cans and bottles to the recycling center and sometimes he would give me the change (which was only like 50 cents) and I would be so happy until he told me I was old enough to go get a job and I didn’t need the change.

I took matters into my own hands and started collecting bottles on my own little by little.

Thankfully, my boss was nice enough to let me store my empty bottles in a cabinet at work and then when it gets full, I take it to the recycling center and get my extra cash from there. On average I only get about $3-$5 dollars but that can add up in no time.

5. Sell handmade goods on Etsy

If you have a crafty hand or an artistic skill, try selling your work on Etsy.

I see a lot of handmade jewelry, posters, clothing, bags and so much more authentic goods sold on this website.

Whether you knit, sew, crochet, draw, build, or anything in that creative aspect, try it out!

6. Babysit/ Pet sit

If you are not allergic to pets or babies this side job could be for you.

I know this job is very “old school”, but depending on the cat, dog, or “baby” owner, you can make a good amount of cash in one weekend depending on how much they pay an hour. If the opportunity arises, look into it!

Go online and search for babysitters that are needed in your area or use popular websites like Care.com to see what opportunities are available for you.