10 Ways To Earn Extra Money For Military Families

Disclosure: Always read the privacy policy on apps to see how your information is being used.

You’ve created a Spending and Savings Plan, aka “a budget,” and realized you need to increase the income coming into your household. The problem is, you’re already working full time, or taking on a second job outside the home isn’t possible.

Thanks to technology, you don’t have to go far to earn additional cash. Many side hustles can be done from your smartphone or laptop, and if there’s anything we know about military families, especially military spouses, you are tech savvy and resourceful!

Of course, not all options will equate to a full-time income. Still, every penny counts, and these are perfect for adding to your savings, additional grocery money, or just doing something fun with family or friends without touching your primary income.

Here are ten ways to earn extra money:

1. Companies Who Hire Remotely

If you don’t mind getting a second job, but don’t want to leave your home, consider applying to a company that hires remotely. Positions range from advanced to customer service positions. Many well-known companies hire people to work remotely, and several are committed to hiring veterans and military spouses by giving them hiring preference.

Some of these companies include Hilton, American Express, and Liveops. You can also find weekly job listings on sites like Indeed [search remote jobs] and Workers on Board.

2. Sell Your Old Stuff

Military families move a lot. If you need to declutter and condense or just have accumulated a lot of things, consider selling them on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and Decluttr, which make it easy to reach people and may have low-cost shipping.

3. Babysit

Many families are seeking affordable childcare. Some are looking for full-time, and others just for a few hours to run errands. Consider creating affordable babysitting rates. If you’d like to do more hours, you will need Family Child Care certification, which includes first aid courses and training, and can be completed in as little as thirty days. If you’re military, you can watch children for a few hours in on-base housing without certification. Stipends for initial supplies are usually provided by this military program, too.

4. Deliver Groceries and Fast Food

Signing up to deliver food on apps like Uber Eats, Doordash, and Grubhub can be great when you know how to get the most out of them. Consider using the apps when you are already out in a time of high gas prices, and learn the best times to get the most orders.

If you are already picking up groceries, you’ll want to sign up for apps like Instacart, Shipt, or Amazon Fresh. The great thing about these is that you can do them while handling your own errands and earn income too.

5. Deliver A Package

Roadie, a UPS-owned company, allows you to deliver packages while on your way to a destination you were already going to. This is a perfect example of ways to work smarter, not harder.

6. Become a Freelancer

Take the skills you already have and put them to use as a freelancer. Become a virtual assistant, social media manager, photographer, or tutor. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are great for reaching people seeking your skills.

7. Walk Pets

You can earn money through your love for pets if you're a pet lover. Apps like Rover and Wag allow you to sign up via your smartphone and earn money by walking people’s pets. 

8. Teach Online

If you have a teaching degree collecting dust, you can utilize Teach Away to learn about remote teaching jobs. Some of these teaching jobs teach children in other countries English and may not require a degree.

9. Use Your Handy Skills

Are you great at fixing things or putting things together? TaskRabbit allows you to put those skills to use in your local area and earn money for doing so.

10. Got An Extra Car Sitting Around?

It’s common for many military households to have one vehicle that is not in constant use due to a service member being away on duty. Turo allows you to rent your car out and earn income. They also provide liability insurance in case of an accident.

As always, Military Saves encourages you to do your research and homework! Ensure the companies are safe, have excellent ratings and reviews, and that you are aware of any tax-related nuances. While we’ve listed several companies here, we do not explicitly endorse any organization. Please use these ideas as a source of inspiration to add additional income if needed, rather than participate in predatory lending practices that often target military families.