7 side projects to earn you extra cash

It’s always nice to have a little extra spending money around for emergencies (like that afternoon latte). Even better? Earning that extra cash on your own time while doing something that actually interests you. If your nine-to-five is good for paying the bills and not much else, there are other options out there that can help you put more away each month. Here are seven possible side gigs with plenty of earning potential.

This content was produced by Boston Globe Media in collaboration with the advertiser. The editorial department of Boston.com had no role in its production or display.

Get crafty and sell your creations

If you have a passion for making things, whether by crocheting, woodworking, illustrating, or designing, and believe others would enjoy your products, look in to starting your own online store.

From at-home candle makers and quirky décor to fandom shops and customized stationary, online marketplaces on Etsy and Amazon Handmade offer crafters and creators a place to get paid for their talents.

Capitalize on you car

If you own a car, you could be using it to make money (or at least earn back gas money). With the sharing economy still in full effect, sites like Relay Rides give car owners the ability to put their wheels up for rent on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

If you’d rather stay behind the wheel, why not try shuttling on your schedule by joining Uber or Lyft? Drivers for these increasingly popular services can make around $35/hour and are only on the clock when they want to be.

Browse undercover as a mystery shopper

Ever wish you could eat out at restaurants, shop for new threads, or enjoy cocktails at the newest lounge—and get paid for it? Well, you can. As a mystery shopper, you’ll earn cash by providing feedback to companies on things like quality assurance and staff interactions, all while doing what you like to do.

Mystery shoppers earn roughly $8-$25 per gig and get reimbursed for all their expenses. By simply browsing, eating, or buying things (which, be honest, are all things you’re a pro at anyway), you can earn some extra money with firms like Best Mark, Market Force, and Sinclair.

Share your opinions on a blog

In today’s day and age, having a web presence means more than just putting your vacation pictures on Facebook. Blogs are a potentially lucrative outlet for you to speak your mind, offer advice, or provide instruction on a variety of topics, as often as you want.

Many have found success as mommy bloggers, food bloggers, tech bloggers, and more on platforms, such as Tumblr and WordPress, which make it easy to express and share your points of view. It might take time, but if your blog gains attention, advertisers will be looking to monetize your hard work.

Rent out your spare room

Having an extra bedroom available for guests is a convenient luxury, but ultimately sits wasted most of the time, right? Instead of waiting for Aunt Maude to visit, try offering your empty room to travelers and tourists through Airbnb.

A sharing service designed to bypass hotel costs and give you a way to get paid for space you already have, Airbnb has gained popularity because of its convenience and affordability. Just set your price, clean the sheets, and watch the money roll in as your guests roll out.

Freelance with skills you’ve already mastered

Whether you can write, design, code, or just have good people skills—even if you do none of these things professionally—you can use your skills to help businesses in need of one-off talent, quick turnarounds, or extra manpower.

Sites like Guru and Upwork make it easy for companies to find the right talent for the work they need done. Better yet, they make it easy for you to build a profile, set a rate, and get hired right away for a job you’re good at.

Clean up big time with your own Laundromat

One of the best ways to earn some side money takes advantage of something that everyone needs—clean clothes. Whether in big cities, college towns, or crowded apartment buildings, opening a Laundromat can be a great investment.

To help you get started, Yankee Equipment provides you with all the parts, services, and information you’ll need. Once everything’s set up and the sign is switched to open, you’ll start making that extra money day in and day out.

This content was produced by Boston Globe Media in collaboration with the advertiser. The editorial department of Boston.com had no role in its production or display.