My last post about making money while you build your indie career stirred up lots and lots of interest! You can view that post here: Make More Money: 6 Side Hustles for Writers.
Because of that post’s popularity, I took a hard look at some of the other side jobs I’ve taken while building my career and found a bunch! (Hey, putting three kids through life wasn’t cheap. Know what I mean?).
Making money with these side hustles (for writers & others):
Cash4Books.net. Frankly, textbook prices are insane! That’s really a topic for an entirely new rant post. But all I can tell you is that, last year, while we were trying to pack up our home of 14 years, I found a STACK of expensive text books that colleges would not buy back. Grrr. The good news is that I was able to sell several of them at Cash4Books.net. They make it easy. Just go to the site, enter your book’s ISBN, and see what they’ll pay you. Then use the shipping label they email you and get rid of that send off that expensive book for cash.
- Bonus Tip: Bookscouter.com – I’ve heard good things about this book buy-back site. So if Cash4Books isn’t interested in your titles, give Bookscouter a try.
Poshmark – A close friend empties her closet by selling on Poshmark all the time (the name alone feels, well, posh). Here are some PRO TIPS from my friend, a regular seller on the site:
- Include measurements – especially on pants. For pants, always include the inseam, front rise and waist measurement, and note if the pant is stretch or rigid. For tops, include the front length measurement.
- Post high-quality photos using a clean background. Place the piece either flat on the floor or hanging against a blank wall
- You can earn referral credit when you refer friends to sign up on Poshmark. If you sign up, I’d love it if you’d put my username–jcarobini–down as your referrer❤️
Swag Bucks – Take surveys, watch videos, play games, or shop through their links to receive cash back in the form of gift cards. Doing all of the above earns you “swag bucks,” which you can cash in when you hit a certain level. You can use them to buy items, or I prefer to turn them in for Amazon gift cards.
eBay Seller – Know anyone making money on eBay? This is something I’ve been doing for years and years–and years. I’m very much an anti-hoarder (I don’t like clutter!), so I regularly put up items on eBay that I no longer use. And the money comes in fast–usually within 3 days of the sale. Ca-ching. TIP: Think ahead! The last month before a holiday, especially Christmas, can bring in lots of extra cash.
Sell Clothes on Consignment – This can be done a few ways. Some stores take in items they think they can sell and pay you a percentage after the sale. I’ve done this with maternity clothes, which can be uber-expensive, and have received back a nice chunk of money. Other stores will pay you cash on the spot or if you are willing to take a credit to be used at their store, you will likely receive a much bigger return. To find a consignment store near you, Google search: consignment stores in my area.
Amazon Affiliate – Why, oh why, did I take so long to sign up for this? I’ve had an account on Amazon for years, and I bet you do, too. Did you know that you could also be an affiliate? This means you can be making money on items that other people purchase on Amazon through your affiliate link. To sign up, go to Amazon, scroll down to the footer and look for the column that says Make Money with Us, then click on Become an Affiliate.
- Tips I need to tell you – First, Amazon is super picky about how you share your links (wah-wah). You can’t email them to people, for instance. And some places like Pinterest, won’t allow them. And … they don’t want anyone connected to you to use your link. BUT … but if you have a website or other social media accounts, at the time of this writing you CAN share your affiliate links when you recommend a product. Just be sure to note it somewhere on the post (i.e., #ad, #sponsored, or #afil). Follow their rules, and you can make some nice monthly cash. I do!
I hope these side hustles help you make more money while you’re building your indie publishing career. Just be careful not to let all that making money keep you from writing! Speaking of writing, have you picked up my FREE PDF, How to Publish a Book on Amazon? If not, you can do that here: