Are you looking for some creative ways to put some extra money in your pocket?
Whether you're looking to pay off debt, save for a big purchase, or simply give yourself greater financial stability, there are many paths to start earning more.
Below, I鈥檒l share some of the best ways to boost your income. The best part is that you don鈥檛 have to leave your current job. But first, it鈥檚 important to make clear your current financial situation to help you set your financial goals.
If an unexpected car repair, home repair, or other emergency expense came up, would you be able to take care of it? Do you have an emergency savings fund, or would you have to rely on a credit card or payday loan?
Twenty-six per cent of all Canadians would be unable to cover an of $500, according to a 2023 survey by Statistics Canada.
Financial advisors typically suggest having at least two- or three-month鈥檚 worth of living expenses saved in an emergency savings fund as a financial safety net in case of unexpected events like:
The two best solutions for building a financial safety net are to revisit your budget to find areas you can cut back on spending and to boost your personal income.
If you spend more than a few minutes scrolling through social media, you鈥檒l undoubtedly come across at least one 鈥済uru鈥 trying to tell you that you can take their course, quit your day job, and magically start earning six figures.
Unfortunately, that鈥檚 not realistic for most people.
To be fair, there鈥檚 nothing wrong with having a job. In fact, people with jobs working for a company often earn more, pay fewer taxes, and stress less than .
That being said, one of the best ways to increase your income is to leverage your current job. This could involve:
As hockey legend Wayne Gretzky famously stated, 鈥測ou miss 100 per cent of the shots you don鈥檛 take.鈥
If you鈥檝e been working with your company for at least six months and have been meeting (or exceeding) standards, confidently walk into your boss's office one day and ask for a few minutes of their time. Review some of the work you鈥檝e been doing, explain that you鈥檙e willing to take on more responsibility, and ask for the raise.
Another route you can try pursuing to earn more money is to enter the gig economy. Rideshare driving, food delivery, and online freelancing are excellent ways to earn a few extra dollars.
If you have a relatively new vehicle with at least four doors, driving for Uber or Lyft can help you earn upwards of $20 per hour or more. The application process is relatively simple. You鈥檒l just need to submit to a background and driving history check, meet your local requirements, and get your vehicle inspected for safety.
If, for some reason, your vehicle isn鈥檛 approved for rideshare driving, food and grocery delivery can be another good side hustle. Since you鈥檙e not ferrying around customers, the vehicle requirements are a bit more lax. In some cities, you can even deliver food on a bicycle or scooter.
Some of the best food delivery apps to work for include:
If you have a unique skill, freelancing can be a great way to earn money. If you build a good portfolio of work and client reviews, you may even be able to turn it into a full-time income source.
The only downside is that you may have to start off working for a discounted rate to build up said portfolio.
Some of the highest-paying freelance skills are:
To find work, you can start by tapping into your existing network and see if your friends, family members, or co-workers need any help. This can be a great way to get started, as these people will be the most forgiving and write the best reviews.
You can also use online freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, or online forums like Reddit and Facebook Groups to try to find clients.
The quickest and easiest way to boost your income is simply to ask your existing job for a raise or apply to a higher-paying position within your organization. If that route fails, freelancing or entering the gig economy can be another good route.
Earning more money won鈥檛 do you much good, though, if you don鈥檛 know how to manage it. This is why budgeting is such an important habit to get into.
The more you can understand and control your expenses and spending habits, the more breathing room you鈥檒l be able to give yourself. Keep on reading for more ways to put your savings on autopilot so you can reach your financial goals.
Christopher Liew is a CFA Charterholder and former financial advisor. He writes personal finance tips for thousands of daily Canadian readers at .
In his column for CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew shares some of the best ways to save on everyday expenses, to help you keep up with life and get back on top of your financial health.
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A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 鈥渉ero鈥 after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
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