There's no single best way to make extra money, it depends on how much time you've got, what you're good at and what you're comfortable doing. Here are the main types of opportunity, with an honest note on what each is actually like.
- 1
Quick one-off money
Bank switch offers, welcome bonuses and free share promotions. The best return for your time on this whole list, but each one only pays once and you need to meet the qualifying criteria.
- 2
Easy and free opportunities
Freebies, free trials, competitions and daily deals. You're mostly saving money rather than earning it, but it's free and takes minutes.
- 3
Earning from home
Surveys, paid research, mystery shopping and AI training work. Flexible and you can do it around anything else, though pay ranges from pennies to a decent hourly rate depending on what you land.
- 4
Regular income
Cashback on everyday spending, reward apps and matched betting reloads. None of it is exciting, but it comes back every month once you've set it up.
- 5
Higher-effort options
Freelancing, selling online, renting out a spare room, building something of your own. These take real time and often a skill, but they're the ones with room to grow.
If you're short on time, stick to the one-off offers. If you've got hours to spare but no money to start with, the from-home work will get you further.