17 Old-Fashioned Ways to Earn Money the Classic Way

While everyone’s chasing the latest ways to make money, the old-fashioned methods are still some of the most reliable.

Basic human needs haven’t changed, and there’s less competition in traditional ways of earning.

These classic ways of earning money are straightforward, meet basic needs, and offer less competition.

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Before we move on to other, more serious jobs to make money from home, I would like to show you some GPT sites you can use to make money online in your spare time.

MakeMoneyOnline: MakeMoneyOnline is a new GPT platform offering 1,000+ high-paying opportunities through games and surveys! Easily find the best deals — earning from $1 to over $100 per offer — with transparent comparison tool. Cash out easily via PayPal, Visa, Amazon, and many other gift cards.

Freecash: Freecash is a new survey site where you can collect points by taking surveys, watching videos, and similar.

Survey Junkie: Survey Junkie is my go-to place to make money online in my spare time. All you have to do is answer surveys to earn cash and gift cards.

Swagbucks: Swagbucks is another massively popular rewards platform. Make money doing surveys, watching videos, and more.

InboxDollars: InboxDollars is a sister site of Swagbucks and lets you earn by uploading receipts, completing shopping offers and watching videos. It also has cash surveys, games, and a $5 sign-up bonus for new members.

Branded Surveys: Branded Surveys is an app like Survey Junkie. Share your opinion to get free gift cards and PayPal money! Share your opinion to get free gift cards and PayPal money!

Cashyy: Cashyy is an Android gaming rewards app that lets you earn PayPal money and a variety of gift cards for downloading and playing new mobile games. You’re getting paid to download mobile games and to play them. The more games you download and the longer you play, the more you earn.

Solitaire Cash: Solitaire Cash is an iOS and Samsung game that lets you play Solitaire for money. The app lets you compete in cash tournaments against other players of similar skill levels. Tournament games cost money to enter and pay anywhere from $1 to $55+.

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Hair And Nail Salon

People need to do their hair, nails, facials, waxing, and makeup all the time.

The demand for these services is always there, so if you have a creative flair and enjoy helping your community members look their best, a hair and nail salon is among the exciting small business ideas for women.

There are three main ways to start setting up a shop for this personal care business, depending on how ambitious you are.

If you have the skills but are working with a tight budget, you can convert an unused room in your house into a salon. Just ensure where you live is easily accessible to people in your community. You don’t want to struggle to attract customers.

Alternatively, you can rent out a booth at a larger hair salon and start offering your services. If you go this route, pick a salon that already has loyal customers and a great reputation.

Thirdly, you can open your hair and nail salon and hire hairdressers/stylists as employees. These services may require special licensing or certificate.

Porta Potty Rental Business

My cousin had one of these when I was a kid.

He lived close to the border crossing and was doing everything under the table—$1 per use.

He never told me how much he was making, but I do remember that in the summertime, people were waiting in lines, especially women.

That said, porta-potty rentals are not an entirely alien concept. If you’re looking for a small business that requires low startup capital to set up, open a porta potty rental business. The price of a standard portable restroom starts at $700.

The portable toilet industry is quite profitable. You know, then demand is high and then supply is low.

The average cost to rent a portable toilet for a day is 75-100 dollars. Be ready to go out and sell your services to prospective clients.

There might already be a few porta-potty rentals, but don’t fret. Just check out if they’re covering the necessities of your town or not.

Babysitting

Babysitting has been a go-to way to earn money for a long time. It involves taking care of kids while their parents are out. This job is perfect if you’re good with children, can keep them safe, and make their time fun.

It’s also pretty flexible, so it works well if you need a job that fits around your other commitments. You can find babysitting gigs by telling people in your neighborhood, posting on social media, or signing up on websites that help families find babysitters.

Selling Handmade Crafts

Whether it’s knitting, jewelry making, woodworking, or any other craft, there’s a market for unique, handcrafted items.

You can sell your creations at local markets, craft fairs, or online platforms like Etsy. This not only earns you money but also lets you express your creativity and connect with customers who appreciate handcrafted work.

Check out: 17 Things to Sell on Etsy to Make Money

Lawn Mowing

Mowing lawns is a classic way to earn money under the table, especially in neighborhoods with lots of gardens. It’s perfect for those who don’t mind a bit of physical work and enjoy being outdoors.

You can start with just a mower and basic tools, and as you get more clients, you might even expand into a full lawn care service.

To find work, start by offering your services to neighbors or local community groups, and as word spreads, your client base can grow.

Tutoring

Tutoring is a timeless way to earn money by sharing your knowledge in subjects like math, science, languages, or music. It’s perfect for those who excel in a particular area and enjoy teaching others.

Whether it’s helping students with their homework, preparing for exams, or learning a new skill, tutoring can be done in person or online, offering flexibility and the chance to make a real difference in someone’s education.

House Cleaning

House cleaning has been a reliable business since old times, even in ancient Rome. Today, nothing much has changed. People always need help keeping their homes clean and tidy.

The cleaning service requires minimal overhead.

You don’t need to rent out office spaces or other facilities. To start this business, you just need cleaning supplies, a car to move around, and a website to advertise your services.

To have a thriving business, you just need to take pride in your work and have a passion for success.

With time, you can charge enough to hire an assistant or employee.

Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

Many pet owners need someone reliable to look after their pets while they’re at work or on vacation. This could involve feeding, walking, and playing with pets. It’s a fun way to earn, especially if you form bonds with the pets you care for.

Check out these Dog Walking Jobs Near You And How Much Can You Make Dog Sitting.

Running Errands or Doing Odd Jobs

Back in the Middle Ages, running errands was often a task for the servants of the aristocracy. Today, it’s a practical way for anyone to earn extra cash.

This can include grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, or any small tasks that people are too busy to do themselves.

Paper Route

While not as common as it once was, delivering newspapers in the neighborhood early in the morning teaches responsibility and time management. It’s a straightforward job but requires a commitment to a daily routine.

Garage Sales or Flea Markets

As we’ve mentioned before, selling items is as old as humanity itself. Garage sales or flea markets are perfect for this. They’re a great way to turn unwanted items into cash.

No matter whether you’re decluttering your home or enjoy finding items to resell, these markets offer a direct way to connect with buyers and make sales.

Baking or Cooking

Selling your homemade treats or meals can be an easy way to make extra money. Whether you’re baking cakes for special occasions or preparing family-style meals, there’s always demand for home-cooked goodness.

You can start with easy foods to make and sell to friends, family, or through local online groups.

Another obvious idea is the bakery business.

The smell of freshly baked cookies in the morning will wake up even the laziest person on earth. People are just as passionate about their bread and pastries as they are about their morning cup of coffee.

Fruit and Vegetable Gardening

With a green thumb and some garden space, growing fruits and vegetables can be quite profitable. People love fresh, locally-grown produce, especially if it’s organic.

You can sell your harvest at local farmers’ markets, to neighbors, or through community-supported agriculture programs.

Handyman Services

Many homeowners need help with fixing things around the house but don’t have the skills or time to do it themselves but…

In recent times, it appears that handymen are hard to come by.

The available ones are not enough to service the whole community. Homeowners are forced to hire professionals well outside of their area.

So if you’re in the market for a home improvement business to start, you know what services to offer.

You need tools and equipment for the jobs, but considering how easily you can set up a shop in your basement or garage, other overhead costs could be low.

Teaching Music Lessons

If you’re talented at a musical instrument, teaching music lessons can be both enjoyable and profitable.

You can offer lessons to people of all ages, helping them learn or improve their skills. It’s rewarding to see your students grow and develop their musical talents.

Photography

With a good eye and a quality camera, photography can turn into a lucrative business. You can specialize in areas like portrait, event, or landscape photography.

Offering your services for weddings, family photoshoots, or corporate events can be a great way to use your creative skills to earn money.

Car Wash and Detailing Services

If you like working with your hands and have an eye for making things shine, consider starting a car wash and detailing business. It’s a service many car owners are happy to pay for, getting their vehicles cleaned inside and out.

You can begin with basic washing supplies and, over time, expand into more specialized detailing to increase your earnings.

Don’t miss: 7 Businesses You Can Start With $5,000 or Less