By Dana Dratch for Bankrate.com
Wish you could come up with a few extra bucks this month?
Chances are, you can. And you don’t necessarily have to go out and land a second job to do it.
If you find that you could use a little extra cash now and then (and who couldn’t?), there are a handful of things you can do to pick up some bonus money.
From using the skills you’ve honed at work to developing a side business to throwing your hat in the ring for occasional assignments as a mystery shopper or focus group member, there’s more than one way to salt away a few extra bucks.
And if you find something you like, you might even want to turn it into a regular gig.
To learn how to make some money on the side, consider these five suggestions.
Mystery shopping
The concept is simple: You pose as a customer for a retail store, restaurant, hotel or other business. Then you submit a report on your experience, complete with plenty of details.
But if you really want to get the calls for repeat (and high-dollar) assignments, the keys are being “analytical, precise and articulate,” says Anne M. Obarski, customer service strategist for Merchandise Concepts, a consulting firm.
You not only have to be able to interact and communicate well, it helps to have a scientist’s exactitude for specifics and details, she says.
You also want to sign up with reputable firms. And since scammers love work-from-home jobs like mystery shopping, “you’ve got to be careful,” says Obarski.
Her advice: Go to the industry’s main professional organization, the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, and sign up only with businesses that are members. “There’s a code of ethics,” and the association has been around since 1998, says Obarski.
Pay varies widely with the job. Shoppers can make from $10 for an assignment to up to $500 or more, Obarski says. And, if you like it and you’re good at it, you could conceivably turn it into a job earning up to $15,000 to $20,000 annually, she says.
Join a focus group
Want to share your opinions and get paid for the privilege? Consider volunteering for a focus group.
First, you register with a local market research company, says Amy Shields, director of research for the M arketing Research Association.
Prior to participating, a scheduler will call and ask you a few screening questions, such as if you’ve used a particular product or service, how frequently, etc.
If selected, you’ll be scheduled to go to a group session, she says. Focus groups typically have three to 12 people and last an hour or two, she says. Often, there’s a snack or small meal, plus a check or cash when you leave.
As with mystery shopping, carefully vet companies before you apply. You want to work with legitimate market research firms that regularly conduct focus groups. If someone asks you for money or wants you to cash checks for them, that’s a scam, says Shields.
Focus group rules often stipulate that participants can be part of only a few groups annually, so this won’t be a regular source of income, says Shields. But pay is often in the $75-to-$200 range, she says.
Start your own side business
Think of it as “You Inc.”
With specific professional training or specialized skill sets, you might be able to pick up work and make money on the side.
So if you’re in the marketing department of a large widget maker, you could help small businesses with their marketing needs during your off hours.
Be very careful not to infringe on your employer’s turf, use work resources, compete for clients or help the competition, says Martin Yate, author of “Knock ‘Em Dead: Secrets and Strategies for Success in an Uncertain World.”
Plus, not every employee is a good candidate for parallel side jobs, he says.
For instance, if you work for a marketing firm (rather than an in-house marketing department), it’s likely not a good idea. Also, does the company own your intellectual property, or do you have a noncompete clause?
Never use company devices (phones, tablets, computers) for your side business — even if you’re allowed to take them home, says Yate. They often contain tracking software, so employers could be peering over your shoulder, he says.
The upside of a side business for you and your employer: By learning to run a company, you’ll also become a much better employee, says Yate.
Monetize a hobby
That hobby you love might also bring you a little extra money.
With the advent of online marketplaces like eBay Inc. and Etsy, hobbyists are finding that they can make a little extra money on the side doing what they love.
For three years, Jim “Griff” Griffith has sold men’s shirts and shoes online.
He figures he probably clears an extra $7,000 to $10,000 a year with his hobby. Plus, he picks up some pointers to use in his day job as the senior manager of seller community education and advocacy for eBay Inc.
Griffith’s advice to potential online entrepreneurs: Shop the sites you’re interested in using so you can see the transactions from the customer’s point of view. Then test and refine your selling skills with one item — preferably something small, easy to ship and something you have no emotional attachment to — a few times.
Want to make it a regular habit? Stick to products you know and love, says Griffith, who estimates that he spends about $2.50 a night on his side job. “If you love what you sell, it makes it easier” to turn that passion into a small business, he says.
Sell unwanted items
How would you like to clear some space in a closet, attic or basement and make a little money at the same time?
You might be able to sell unwanted items at a resale or consignment shop.
Resale stores are looking for gently used items or even items that have never been used, says Adele Meyer, executive director of NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals.
And skip anything broken, worn or shabby.
The key to a good deal is finding a store that’s “a good match” for what you want to sell, she says.
“Some stores carry multiple merchandise lines while others may specialize,” says Meyer.
One resource is the shopping guide on the association’s website at NARTS.org. You can search for a member list of consignment shops by merchandise category and ZIP code.
Before you visit stores, check out their websites. “Most stores have guidelines and most have them right on the website,” she says. It pays to understand how each store works, she adds.
Along with researching what you can make and when you get paid, find out what happens if an item doesn’t sell, she advises.
Two hot items: furniture and teen apparel. “These are two of the areas that are showing a big increase in customers,” says Meyer.
