With bills still rising and wages struggling to keep pace, the idea of finding an extra £1,000 can feel more fantasy than financial plan.
But in 2026, boosting your income doesn’t have to mean a second job or a radical lifestyle overhaul.
From smarter use of skills you already have to low-effort digital opportunities, small changes can add up surprisingly fast.
The key is knowing which ideas are realistic and worth your time. Here, The i Paper sets out 10 easy ways to make an extra £1,000 in the year ahead.
Renting out your garage or spare room
Renting out a garage or spare room can be an easy way to earn extra cash, bringing in around £600 to £1,200 a year with “very little time investment”, according to Steve Case, a financial and insurance consultant at Insurance Hero.
A space you only use occasionally typically rents for £50 to £100 a month, while a driveway near a public transport hub can fetch £80 to £120.
You can find local customers by listing on sites such as Craigslist, JustPark, Your Parking Space or Park on My Drive, and by offering flexible access and monthly payments.
“People often rent space close to home for convenience, which can lead to longer-term lets,” Case added.
Depending on where your space is will depend on how much you make. For example, people who live near stadiums will often be able to charge more for match days or when performances are scheduled as there will be increased demand.
Become a ‘personal concierge’ for the time-poor
You could earn £300 to £1,000 a month by helping busy, cash-rich professionals with small but time-consuming tasks.
Everyday admin – from arranging car repairs to collecting deliveries – may be minor, but it quickly eats into a packed schedule.
Young people, in particular, can offer this service at a lower cost than traditional concierge firms, targeting time-poor clients who value convenience and are willing to pay for it.
There are a number of websites you can use to advertise such services including An Hour Earned, Timpi and Juniper Shores.
Dog walking and house sitting
Local services can be an easy way to earn quick cash, as they tend to pay promptly and offer flexible hours.
Dog walking, pet sitting and house sitting are in steady demand across the country, particularly among people who are busy with work, commute to the office or travel regularly and need reliable help at short notice.
For example, doing two lunchtime dog walks a week at £12 to £15 per walk could bring in around £100 to £130 a month.
You can attract clients by advertising locally on community boards, social media, or apps like Nextdoor, Rover, and local Facebook groups.
Improving AI-generated content for businesses
You can make serious cash by improving AI-generated content for businesses.
Matthew Tran, engineer and founder of footwear firm Birchbury, supplemented his income and says he earned over £1,000 in his second month of doing this by charging £85 per hour to refine product descriptions and emails for three e-commerce brands.
His first client paid £420 to rewrite 22 supplement product pages, replacing generic phrases like “unlock wellness” with specific details such as dosage amounts and clinical study findings.
Opportunities like this can be found on freelancing platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn, he said, or by directly reaching out to small e-commerce brands who rely on AI-generated copy. Even just a few hours a week can add up quickly.
Switching to a high-interest account
Moving £200 to £400 a year into a high-interest savings account or taking advantage of switching bonuses can mean you boost your returns especially as inflation remains high.
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There are a number of accounts offering than the current inflation rate yet many still remain victim of the loyalty penalty – where they lose out on funds by sticking with their existing provider who offers below inflation returns.
Even changing current accounts could save £150 to £200 annually with many banks offering switching incentives. Santander and Lloyds are both offering up to £200 for those who switch to one of their accounts now.
Refinancing loans or switching insurance providers can also free up £100 to £200 a month – that’s £1,200 to £2,400 extra in your pocket over the year.
Saving on energy bills
“You might be surprised how much money quietly disappears through things left plugged in or on standby,” Matthew Sheeran, external relations manager at Money Wellness, said.
The phone charger in the socket, the TV on standby, or lights left on all add up.
Small changes, like using timers, smart plugs, or simply switching devices off properly, can cut £5 to £10 from your monthly energy bills – adding up to over £100 a year without feeling like you’re missing out.
Check you’re not missing out on money you’re already owed
Mr Sheeran also suggested checking what you’re already entitled to, as one of the quickest ways to boost your income without a side hustle.
Around £24.1bn in benefits is expected to go unclaimed in 2025/26, affecting roughly seven million households.
A quick benefits check could put hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds back in your pocket each year, and it’s free and easy using online benefit checkers like Money Wellness.
Mystery shopping
Becoming a mystery shopper is a perfect way to combine the love of eating out with earning extra cash.
You can sign up to review a range of local restaurants, from casual chains like Five Guys and Wetherspoon pubs to smaller independent eateries, as well as shops and outlets.
Your expenses are covered, and you earn an additional fee for submitting detailed feedback on your experience.
It’s a simple, flexible way to earn while enjoying meals or visiting stores you might already be going to.
Sell old gold jewellery
Selling old gold jewellery is a simple way to earn extra cash, especially with prices having risen over 50 per cent in the past year.
Many people have broken or unused pieces tucked away from their younger years, and taking them to a jeweller can turn these forgotten items into instant money.
Similarly, selling other items on second hand marketplaces such as Vinted or Facebook Masterplace can rake in the cash.
Online masterclasses
Turning your skills into online classes can be a surprisingly effective way to earn extra cash, no matter your field.
Charlotte Dodds of Baking Bosses, for example, made over £1,000 by hosting a one-hour masterclass on safely posting baked goods – knowledge she’d learned through trial and error.
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Whether it’s cooking, crafts, fitness, or any niche expertise, short online sessions can quickly turn your know-how into ticket sales.
It’s worth remembering that any extra income you earn from side hustles, online classes, or selling goods may be taxable.
Make sure to declare it to HMRC and keep records of your earnings to stay on the right side of the law – a little paperwork now can save big headaches later.
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