A lot of people are afraid of asking for a raise at work, but when you think about it -- worst case your boss says no, best case your boss says yes!
However, you need to have a strong argument when you decide to make your move. Do some prep work and have your talking points ready to go. Know the salary range for your position, the value you add to the company and specific examples of your accomplishments at work. Consider timing too -- when you've been performing at the highest level is a good time to ask.
Here are a couple of resources that can help:
If you're stuck in a rut, start looking for a new job that you will enjoy and make you more money! Use this tool to find out what you should be getting paid and here are some resources for finding the right job for you:
See more smartphone apps that offer ways for you to make extra money.
If you're a people person or a problem-solver, taking on a customer service job on the side may be just the thing for you. According to Bankrate, customer service jobs typically pay higher than $15 per hour, and the number of jobs available in the industry is expected to jump by 18% by 2018. Also, customer service jobs can be good side jobs, because the peak times tend to be early morning, evenings and weekends.
Flexjobs.com is a great resource for finding a part-time position that fits your needs and skills. While the site charges a minimum fee of $15 per month, FlexJobs does a good job of vetting the legitimacy of postings before publishing them on the site -- so you know you're signing up for a legit job that will earn you extra income.
If you don't want to pay the monthly fee, the site's blog is still a good resource for finding legit flexible jobs.
Read more: 15 apps that can make you extra money
If you are organized and have strong computer and communication skills, you can make some pretty good money as a virtual assistant.
Virtual assistants perform a variety of tasks ranging from setting up appointments to typing out emails and buying supplies -- and it's all done from the comfort of your own home! Another perk is that the tasks can typically be done outside of normal business hours -- making it an ideal side job for someone looking to make extra cash.
Sites like Zirtual and VirtualAssistants.com make the process of finding an executive in need of some flexible assistance pretty easy -- but may require a fee.
Another way to find virtual assistant jobs is through Craigslist -- but first make sure you do your research on how to stay safe when using Craigslist.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, virtual assistants can make up to $100 per hour, although $25 per hour is a more typical starting point.
Read more: How to handle unexpected extra cash
How much money you make selling things online depends on how much effort you put into it. By getting into selling things you know and understand, you can make a few thousand dollars in extra cash.
If you're just looking for a few extra bucks here and there, it's easy to sell unwanted items from around your house. If you're looking for more money, it pays off to get into selling bigger ticket items -- especially since you have to cover the costs of shipping.
If this is something you're interested in doing, here's the secret to making big money on eBay.
Do you have a bunch of old clothes piled up in your closet, under your bed or in a dresser somewhere? If you haven't worn it in two years, chances are you won't wear it again. So start pulling it out and turn it into extra cash.
Depending on what you sell and the site you use, you can make some pretty good chunks of cash by getting rid of your old clothes. Even small amounts can start to add up quickly -- giving you an extra payment toward your debt or some spending money on your next vacation. And a lot of sites include a free shipping label, which makes the process pretty easy.
Here are some sites that make it super easy to sell your clothes:
NerdWallet did some research into what drivers of ridesharing companies like Uber, Lyft, or SideCar can make — and it’s a pretty good amount. And in case you're not familiar with the idea of ridesharing, it's where anyone can make themselves available on demand via an app as a car for hire to give you a ride.
According to NerdWallet's analysis of data from SherpaShare -- a service that let drivers track income and expenses -- an Uber driver can make $50,000 a year if they pick up an average of around 60 fares a week -- which is about 20 hours of work.
A full-time driver can make $100,000 a year, according to the Nerd Wallet research.
So if you don’t mind picking up non-sober people on the weekends -- which are typically the times with the highest earning potential for drivers -- then this could be a great way for you to make some extra cash.
Bonus tip: A recent Forbes article highlighted how a small business owner started driving Uber in order to promote his jewelry business. Guess you never know when you’ll pick up the right person!
Got a car sitting in your driveway that you rarely use? Rent it out for some extra cash!
Turo.com, JustShareIt.com and Getaround.com are services that provide car owners a way to rent out their car for cash, as well as an affordable rental option for people who just need to borrow a car for a short time. These companies do offer insurance coverage, but you may want to check your own policy and state laws to make sure you are covered.
You get paid to share your thoughts and opinions -- not a bad deal.
Using participants' feedback, focus groups provide market research for brands and businesses. And in exchange, participants are paid for their time and opinions. Earnings range anywhere from $10 to $150 per one or two-hour session -- which can add up to a good amount of extra cash if you do a few each week or month.
Start by checking out FocusGroup.com, which lists opportunities in your area and also pays $75 to $150 per survey you complete online.
There are tons of opportunities available to tutor online in all different subjects. The pay varies depending on the site and subject matter, and some jobs require certain certifications or degrees. Here are a few tutoring sites to check out:
You can also consider tutoring for people in your area, which allows for flexibility and you can set your own rates.
If you have an area of expertise, consider teaching an online course through a site like Udemy.
There are tons of free apps and website available that allow you to earn reward points for cash or discounts. This can be a great way to save on items you frequently purchase -- and put some cash back in your pocket!
And it's so easy! By shopping through websites like Ebates.com, you can earn cash back on any online purchase you make from a retailer the site has a partnership with. On top of that, the site also offers exclusive coupons and other deals.
Here's a list of more apps to check out.
If you've got old gadgets sitting around, you can get some decent cash for them. Craigslist and eBay are always a great choice, plus here are some more options for selling all types of electronics:
Check out the jobs section on Craigslist for random jobs you can do in your local area.
One guy actually paid off $50,000 of debt by reselling stuff he found at local discount stores and thrift shops. You can find some pretty good items at garage sales and other bargain stores, then resell them on eBay or other sites.
If you have the skills to create and/or design websites, you can make up to a few extra thousand dollars a month doing it on the side. Check out some of the listings on FlexJobs to see any would work for you.
If you live in a city where a big event is happening, consider renting out your home on Airbnb to make some cash! Here are 7 things to know about being an Airbnb host.
If you take great photos, you can sell them on sites like Shutterstock, Photoshelter, Fotolia, DreamsTime and/or iStock.
So it's not really "making" money, but by reducing your monthly expenses, you can free up a lot of cash! Here's a guide on the best ways to make it happen!
If you haven't reevaluated your bank accounts, now is a great time to do it! First, figure out what kind of fees you're currently paying -- because it could be costing you a lot more than you realize.
Go through your statements and look for a few of these common fees: monthly checking account fee, ATM fees, statement fees and overdraft fees. By taking a closer look at your accounts and all the various offers that are currently available out there, switching banks could end up saving you a lot of money in a variety of ways.
Credit unions and online banks are typically the best options when it comes to fee-free banking -- plus when you switch, you may be able to take advantage of bonus cash offers and other types of promotions.
Check out this guide on what to look for and how to choose and switch to a better bank for you!
There's a new peer-to-peer delivery service called Roadie that can be a great way to earn extra cash along your daily commute, a road trip or any other trip you're already taking.
The way it works is the service connects people who have stuff they need to send with drivers heading in the right direction. So all you have to do is deliver the stuff along your way and you'll get paid for it! The amounts range from between $8 and $50 for local trips, to as much as several hundred dollars for long-distance deliveries. And you can pick up as much as you want, as long as it all fits in your car.
If you have old books and textbooks sitting around, BookScouter will search online buy-back sites to find the ones that will offer you the most money for each book.
