6 ways to make extra money

Everyone likes making a bit of extra cash. Having an additional income means you can enjoy some of the good things in life without having to worry about your finances

Sophy Silver of www.Gumtree.com, shares her top tips on how to earn some additional cash that can go towards holidays, special treats or help to pay off debts.

1. Assess your assets
What have you got that other people want? Depending on the assets you have at your disposal and the potential demand for those offerings in your area, there is the possibility of making a steady income without having to do anything at all! Sit down and write a list of what you have and ask yourself if you would be willing to pay for it.

2. Building a profit
Got a spare room, driveway, car parking space or garden? In city locations where space is at a premium, people can command much higher prices for the hire of parking spaces or garages. In London, three out of five people are willing to shell out up to £200 a week for the use of a garage, representing a potential income of £10,000 a year.

3. Think about your skills
Bi-lingual Brits can hope to charge around £17 an hour for tutorials while aspiring chefs are willing to fork out almost £16 an hour to find their way around the kitchen. That equates to an annual wage of £32,000, so it's worth thinking about what skills you have to offer. Advertise on www.Gumtree.com or in your local newsagent or library.

4. Dare to be different
Don't worry if you don't have 'traditional' skills such as speaking a second language or being able to play an instrument. Sometimes it pays to be different. Can you put up shelves, mow a lawn, change a light bulb or have a car that your neighbours would like to hire for weekends or weddings? Have a think. What you have to offer might surprise you!

5. Check your cupboards
Vintage is in. You never know what you'll have at the back of the cupboard, or you might even want to get rid of the cupboard itself. So, rather than fly-tipping or taking it to your local dump, try selling your wares at a local car boot sale, on Gumtree or by holding your own garage sale.

6. Be inventive
So, you haven't got any space to sell or rent, and the few skills you have aren't worth paying for! How can you make some extra cash? What about babysitting, pet-sitting or dog walking? Advertise; pop a notice up at the local newsagent or post an ad on Gumtree and watch the cash roll in!