Money. We all need it, as it makes the world go round. Sometimes though, you wish that you could have a little bit more of it. More for food, more for your hobbies, more to just make life easier. For parents, it’s just about making sure your children are provided for and are comfortable. But what about parents? Everybody deserves a little treat every now and again, so some extra cash is always a pleasant surprise, especially when you’re making it by essentially helping others. The sharing economy has bloomed from providing this very service to those who need it. Here are just some of the ways you can use the sharing economy to earn some extra money.

Rent out your Car

As people are becoming more aware of what we are putting into our atmosphere, the fight for green and clean energy has been escalating. Vehicles are notorious for guzzling fuel, and money as a result, so it makes sense to rent one instead. When you need a vehicle one day, you can just rent it out for the day or however long you need it for.  

Turo (https://turo.com/en-us) is one such service that you can use to rent vehicles other hosts have listed. Rent it for however long you need, whether it be for family trips or for daily errands. If you have little to no trouble getting to and from places without a vehicle, maybe you’ll consider renting out your vehicle to people who need it for a little while.  

You always have a say in how long your vehicle gets rented out for, and you’ll be insured so you won’t have to worry much about possible issues that may occur. Sydney-based Car Next Door (https://www.carnextdoor.com.au/) takes up to 10 cars off roads, which reduces carbon emissions caused by running cars. 25,000 trees have been planted so far by environmental organisation Greenfleet in their carbon offset program.

Pet Sitting

There are few children who haven’t asked their parents for dogs and cats and other wonderful animals. There is a multitude of sources out there that highlight the benefits of having animals around children, as it teaches them patience, care and responsibility for another being. If you’re not sure as to whether or not your family is ready for a pet full time, you can always pet sit an animal and see if it’s something your family is open to.

It will still teach you and your family how to care for a pet without it being a constant in your life. Rover (https://www.rover.com/) is a good one to be on, just be mindful that potential pet sitters are screened by professionals who will make sure that you are prepared for any events and issues that may arise during each pet sitting venture. If you’re in Australia, Mad Paws (https://www.madpaws.com.au/) is a great way to introduce yourself to the world of dogs, cats and other creatures.

Renting out your Garage/Storage Space

Parking spaces are always in demand, and it’s maddening to sit in your vehicle and endlessly circle around the block, waiting for someone to vacate their spot so you can use it. So why not rent someone else’s space from them? It will be of benefit to both parties, as you will have a parking space for your exclusive use, and the host will earn extra money.  

If they live close to the area you need to be in, it’s really the perfect solution to your parking troubles, you can park and not have to worry about potential damages or the possibility of being late. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you have an unused garage space or driveway, you can always list it on sites like Spacer and set up your schedule to your specifications. You’ll essentially be making money by simply renting out your vacant spaces within your own home.  

If you’re ever considering moving to Australia, whether it be semi-permanent or permanent-permanent, and you’re wondering what to do with extra space in your home, you can always rent it out to renters who need extra storage space. You’d be surprised at how much storage space you need for your home. You could even store in a Spacer space, while renting out your own spaces!

Odd Jobs

If you have a vast array of skills and work experience, you might be able to capitalize on that. Places like Airtasker (https://www.airtasker.com/), based in Australia. Similar sites such as Craigslist are featured worldwide, however it depends on how specific your skillset is, and TaskRabbit (https://www.taskrabbit.com/) has a lot of similarities to Airtasker, but is more focused on handyman skills, such as building furniture and moving heavy objects in and around your home. Your skills could range from pet grooming to gardening. It can be a hobby that you really love doing, so why not make money from doing it in your spare time?  

It’s hard to imagine all the different ways you can make money off of things lying around within your own home! From renting out tools to garage spaces, there’s just so many opportunities you can take advantage of around you, and it’s helping you, your family and others. It’s a win situation for all parties, so what are you waiting for? Have a look at what appeals to you and your schedule, how much effort you want to exert, and do it!

Contributed by Irene Gotley, Content Manager at Spacer and Parkhound