What to Do When Your Paycheck Isn’t Enough

Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by Career Reload Team

Are you tired of not making enough money? We’ve all been there at one point or another, and for those who have yet to be there, the likelihood is that you’ll get there at some point. It’s not a nice position to find yourself in, especially if it seems as though you’re stuck and you have no way out. Having said that, there is always a way to make more money if you know what you’re doing.

For those of you who don’t know, that’s why we’ve written this article. We’re going to be offering you some advice and options to help you make some more money going forward, giving you a more comfortable budget to work with. Want to know more? Feel free to read on.

Start Blogging

We’re going to kick things off by suggesting that you start a blog. Now, this is not going to give you the immediate cash that some people are looking for, and if that’s you then move onto the next option. However, if you’ve got time to wait until you generate some more funds, then blogging could be an ideal solution. If you love to write and share your thoughts, and if you can gather enough people who want to read about whatever you’re posting, then you’re on to a winner here.

It takes time to build up a blog to the point where you are earning money for it, but with regular posting and engaging content, it can be done. You can either start a blog that focuses on a particular niche, or you can start more of an eclectic blog, depending on what you think you’re going to want to post. The choice is yours, but you just need to be patient while you start to see success.

Offer a Freelance Service

Is there a service that you are qualified to offer but you don’t currently? If it’s something that you enjoy, or even something that you don’t but don’t mind doing too much, then you should consider offering this on a freelance basis. The great thing about doing this is that you’re in charge of what products you take on, you’re in charge of how much you charge based on how long it’s going to take you to do and so on. You have the full level of control that you want to fit it around your current job and the rest of your lifestyle, making things so much easier while also earning more income.

To do this though, it’s going to take some advertising. So, you’re going to have to invest in yourself a little bit before you see any kind of success. But, there are free platforms such as social media, and then you can pay for extra as and when you need it to give yourself a little boost. Just ensure you have a strong site for people to find you.

Start Your Own Little Shop

You could also think about starting your own little shop! If you are creative and you have a talent for making something specific, why not start a little shop online and sell your creations? It could be a bakery, it could be jewelry making, or it could be something entirely different but you never know if you could be a success if you don’t try.

Lots of people give this a shot, and some people have found a lot of success this way, so it’s always something to consider.

Sell Some of Your Items

Another great option might be to list some of your old belongings online and sell them to people who need them. There has been an increase in families and individuals using selling sites to make some extra money as there will always be things they need that you are potentially getting rid of. If you have children then their items can sell for quite a bit of money, including cots, cribs, and clothing. Make sure you are honest and truthful in your adverts, otherwise you will find buyers requesting refunds. This is the last thing you need when you are trying to build up money for a rainy day fund.

Work out which platform will be best for you to sell your items, it all comes down to what you are listing. It might be vintage antiques, baby items, or just general items from around your home.

Work More Hours Where You Can

If you have a day job then it might be worthwhile picking up some extra hours when you can. If you are allowed to go in on evenings and weekends then you could offer to do this as well. It not only shows dedication to your work but you can also make quite a bit of extra cash working unsociable hours. Check with your manager or head of the company to see if this is something you could do. If you work from home then that’s even better, you could simply login whenever you had a spare couple of hours.

Publish Lessons Online

Lastly, if you are wanting to make more money on the side then how about you use your expertise to teach? If you have a background in teaching then this can be a rather lucrative side hustle. You can look into online courses for passive income and this will give you plenty of ideas on what you can teach online. If you have a dedicated interest then you can share these passions and lessons with others, your students could be small in primary school or older ones in high school. You could even have adult learners looking to learn something new, the world really is your oyster when you are teaching.

We hope you found this helpful and it gave you some tips and tricks on how to make some extra money. Life is hard and life is expensive, if you save and have side hustles then you can live more comfortably. Remember, if you are earning over a certain amount then you will be in charge of paying tax.

Career Reload Team

We’re a team of writers dedicated to providing insights and tips for navigating the professional world. With a collective wealth of experience across various industries and roles, our team understands the challenges and opportunities that come with seeking meaningful work and advancing your career. We help job seekers to better their careers by offering career advice & free resources. Download free Word resume templates and resume templates for Google Docs.