💯 Ways to Generate Extra Income

A Lifeline for 35–49-Year-Olds Facing Financial Crisis

By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning | 4-Minute Read

The ‘rainy day’ we’re told to save for? It’s here—especially for 1 in 5 of us in our prime working years.

Despite having the highest average income, many 35–49-year-olds are facing acute financial stress. According to Royal London, 20% of this age group are now struggling to pay essential household bills. With costs up £588/month since early 2023, 1 in 4 have no savings. Many are forced into overdrafts or debt just to stay afloat.

Yet the system continues to offer just one prescription: Financial Capital strategies—the same old advice about saving what you’ve already earned and handing it over to the growth-obsessed financial services industry.

At the Academy of Life Planning, we champion a different path: Human Capital strategies—the art of using your time, skills, creativity, and community to create value and generate income. Human Capital is the present value of your future earnings. You don’t need to have money to make money—you need to know your value.

Here are 100 ways to start.

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🔧 Side Hustles & Skills

1. Start a Side Hustle – Monetise a passion project on evenings or weekends.
2. Freelance Writing – Get paid to write blogs, articles, or web content.
3. Graphic Design – Use Canva or Adobe tools to offer branding services.
4. Virtual Assistant – Support entrepreneurs with admin and scheduling.
5. Coding – Build websites or apps using free coding tutorials.
6. Consulting – Share your expertise as an independent advisor.
7. Tutoring – Teach school subjects or exam prep online.
8. Photography – Sell images on stock sites or offer local shoots.
9. Voice-over Work – Use your voice for ads, YouTube, or audiobooks.
10. Editing & Proofreading – Polish written content for clients.

🏠 Local Services

11. Babysitting – Provide childcare, especially evenings or weekends.
12. Dog Walking – Offer walking and pet-sitting for busy families.
13. Handyman Services – Use DIY skills for small home repairs.
14. Gardening – Help neighbours maintain or transform their gardens.
15. Cleaning Services – Start a domestic or office cleaning round.
16. Personal Chef – Prep meals for health-conscious professionals.
17. Personal Shopping – Assist the time-poor or elderly with errands.
18. Event Planning – Organise parties, weddings, or business events.
19. Home Organising – Declutter and simplify spaces for clients.
20. Mobile Car Wash – Offer eco-friendly car cleaning on demand.

🌐 Online Platforms

21. Sell on eBay – Clear clutter and cash in.
22. Use Gumtree – Sell or swap goods locally.
23. Facebook Marketplace – Reach a local buying community.
24. Etsy – Sell handmade or vintage goods.
25. Fiverr – Offer digital services from logos to resumes.
26. TaskRabbit – Get paid to do odd jobs and errands.
27. Upwork – Find freelance gigs in writing, design, and more.
28. Airbnb – Rent out a spare room or property.
29. Turo – Share your car for extra income.
30. JustPark – Rent your driveway or parking space.

✅ Financial Checks & Claims

31. Check Benefit Entitlements – Use gov.uk calculators to ensure you’re not missing out.
32. Reclaim Overpaid Tax – HMRC may owe you.
33. Find Lost Bank Accounts – Use the free tracing service.
34. Trace Lost Pensions – Search old employers or providers.
35. Claim Mis-sold Products – Seek redress for financial mis-selling.
36. Check for Unclaimed Money – Use official registers to search.

♻️ Selling & Recycling

37. Sell Clothes on Depop – Fashion resale is booming.
38. Recycle Electronics – Use Mazuma or MusicMagpie.
39. Sell Old Books – Platforms like BookScouter or Amazon.
40. Sell Games/CDs/DVDs – Declutter and earn.
41. Recycle Ink Cartridges – Some companies pay for returns.
42. Sell Scrap Metal – Copper and aluminium fetch good rates.
43. Sell Crafts Locally – Visit markets or fairs.
44. Sell Baked Goods – Homemade treats at events or online.
45. Sell Houseplants – Grow, propagate, and sell on.

💤 Passive Income

46. Affiliate Marketing – Promote and earn via tracked links.
47. Invest in Stocks – Start with low-fee robo-investing.
48. Peer-to-Peer Lending – Platforms like Zopa offer returns.
49. Create a Course – Teach what you know on Teachable or Udemy.
50. Write an eBook – Publish digitally and earn royalties.

⚡ Quick Cash Options

51. Paid Surveys – Swagbucks and others offer quick money.
52. Test Websites – Get paid to review functionality.
53. Mystery Shopping – Assess service standards.
54. Sell Photos Online – Upload to Shutterstock or Alamy.
55. Participate in Studies – Universities pay for input.
56. Rent Your Items – Tools, tech, and more via Fat Llama.
57. Cashback Apps – Quidco or TopCashback give money back.
58. Get Paid to Exercise – Sweatcoin rewards daily movement.
59. Watch Ads & Videos – Earn on InboxPounds.
60. Data Entry – Help businesses with basic admin tasks.

💡 Financial Health

61. Review Subscriptions – Cancel unused services.
62. Negotiate Bills – Call to reduce broadband or phone costs.
63. Switch Energy Providers – Use comparison tools.
64. Use Budgeting Apps – Monitor spending with tools like YNAB.
65. High-Interest Savings – Move savings to better accounts.

🌱 Community & Networking

66. Offer Local Workshops – Teach cooking, yoga, or crafts.
67. Bartering – Trade services (e.g., babysitting for gardening).
68. Join a Business Network – Generate referrals.
69. Crowdfunding – Raise money for ideas or needs.
70. Apply for Grants – Local councils offer funding schemes.

🚀 Advanced Strategies

71. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) – Invest in property passively.
72. Tax Planning – Speak to a pro and optimise legally.
73. Franchise Ownership – Buy into a proven model.
74. Import/Export – Source and sell niche goods.
75. Dropshipping – Sell products without holding stock.

⚠️ Avoid These

76. High-Interest Loans – Debt traps with no upside.
77. Gambling – Risky and often addictive.
78. Pyramid Schemes – Illegal and unsustainable.
79. Unregulated Investments – Steer clear unless you’re an expert.
80. Impulse Buying – Delay gratification and stick to your plan.

🐾 More Side Hustles

81. Pet Grooming – Offer home-based services.
82. Teach Online – Language, instruments, cooking, you name it.
83. Social Media Management – Support small businesses.
84. Transcription – Convert speech to text for content creators.
85. Language Tutoring – ESL or bilingual services are in demand.

🌍 Sustainable Living

86. Upcycling – Turn waste into sellable goods.
87. Grow Food – Sell surplus or save money.
88. Install Solar Panels – Reduce bills long-term.
89. Cycle to Work – Cut travel costs and get fit.
90. Make Cleaning Supplies – Cheap and eco-conscious.

🤖 Tech for Income

91. Automate Investing – Apps round up change into funds.
92. Sell Digital Products – Printables, planners, and templates.
93. Start a Podcast – Monetise via ads or Patreon.
94. YouTube Channel – Share your insights and grow an audience.
95. Offer SEO Services – Optimise websites for Google.

🤝 Community Engagement

96. Sell at Local Fairs – Meet buyers and build fans.
97. Join Skill Exchanges – Trade and save.
98. Join a Community Garden – Sell produce or save food bills.
99. Volunteer to Network – Opportunities often follow contribution.
100. Get Local Sponsorships – Offer value to small businesses.

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🧭 Final Word: Find Your Ikigai

Choosing your path isn’t about picking the “most profitable” idea. It’s about finding your Ikigai—what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. The GAME Plan we teach at the Academy of Life Planning aligns your goals and your money with your true self.

These 100 Human Capital strategies are more than just tips—they’re a manifesto for reclaiming your earning power in a rigged system.

If you’re ready to break free from the product-pushing model and become a non-intermediating financial planner, we’re here to help.

👉 Visit the Academy of Life Planning to learn how.

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Your Money or Your Life

Unmask the highway robbers – Enjoy wealth in every area of your life!

By Steve Conley. Available on Amazon. Visit www.steve.conley.co.uk to find out more.