Increase your income
13. Rent out a room: Sites like Airbnb aren’t just for people who have vacation homes to rent out when they’re not using them. Many of the site’s listings are for extra rooms — or even shared rooms — in the owner’s house, meaning you could stay put while bringing in some cash, particularly if you live in a reasonably desirable area. Check local ordinances to make sure short-term rentals are allowed.
Creating a listing on the site is free, but there is a 3% service fee when a reservation is made. You can easily estimate how much you might make on the Airbnb website. For example, the site estimates that a one-week private room rental in relatively rural Staunton, Virginia, could bring in $725. The company releases payment to the host 24 hours after the guests check in.