DIY Projects To Make An Extra Buck

Most people today, and especially young people, require some extra cash to cover daily expenses. But seeing how restricted the job market is for many, and how long it takes to get into a well-paying profession, the next alternative is gaining more and more followers. We are talking about, of course, DIY projects.

The growing trend of crafting something with your own hands in your spare time to earn the equivalence of an allowance is understandable. People are very creative creatures and it feels good to make something from scratch yourself, even more, if there is an added benefit of making a profit out of it. The list of possible projects one can take up is enormous and the only limiting factor would be how handy someone is with various tools and materials. 

Here we will take a look at some ideas that are gaining popularity recently. 

Amateur Jewelry Making

When thinking of precious stones and metals one imagines richly decorated dresses, balls, royalty, etc. This might be true, but jewelry has a far wider specter than that and it may take forms that can be made without precise cutting tools, magnifying lenses, and a degree in geology. 

Many have tried their hands at making amateur jewelry projects and it is amazing what the results can be. Apart from investing in the starting material, such as silver and brass wire and faux diamonds, there are few tools needed apart from a pair of smaller pliers and cutters. You can try waving bracelets and necklaces out of wire by following some patterns and then adding glass beads or pearls for some extra bling. Customers are sure to follow!

The Vinyl Business

Vinyl is best known for its use in the form of music records, but unknown to many, it is actually a plastic that has many more uses, some of which are good for a side business. Vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) can come in the form of a self-adhesive plastic foil that is a fantastic material for use as stickers and markers. 

The vinyl foil can be cut and overlapped in different designs, ranging from the very formal and informative sticker on an industrial tank to a colorful marker for a children’s book. The Best Vinyl Cutters sums up the current state of the market for the basic machines needed to get started. For a relatively low entry budget, you can start making unique but very practical items that are always in demand. 

Knitting

A fantastic pastime for many older women, this is one of the favorite go-to’s to earn a bit of extra cash. It requires nothing more than two knitting sticks, some wool, and two healthy hands. When warmed up it can be done almost passively, while watching a show or listening to an audiobook for example.

There is a great number of magazines dedicated solely to knitting, that advise on what is fashionable and how to do it. Scarfs, vests, and jumpers are seasonal favorites and there will always be a need for them during the colder months, especially when they can be personalized when being hand-made!

Blogging

Popular among younger generations, Millennials especially, blogging and vlogging are seen as a very easy side job. You dress up, talk about your day, get followers, and then get paid to advertise here and there, right? Well, it is a little more complicated than that.

Blogging still works for the 10% who do things differently. Today you need to dedicate yourself to a great degree to make a living out of blogging and it may just not be a side job at that point. Market analysis, follower feedback, creating original content… A great side job for those with both management and artistic skills, but very time-consuming otherwise. 

Pallet furniture

For those with a love for woodworking – making tables, chairs, and more out of wooden pallets is a fantastic hobby that easily pays off. Seeing how pallets are made out of already formed planks and blocks there are very few serious alternations that need to be made for them to become alternative furniture. 

Pallets can easily be found or bought around as most larger shipments use them for stacking only once, and later are a burden to keep around for companies. A saw cutter, sandpaper, hammer, and nails and you are ready to go carpeting!

As you can see, there are many different ways of earning a few extra bucks that don’t require much previous knowledge or elaborate infrastructure. These are all very creative, fun, and manageable projects that almost anyone can do, and that will find their way to a customer sooner than you think!