20 Easy Ways To Make Extra Money In Nottingham
Let’s be honest: life in Nottingham isn’t as cheap as it used to be. With food, rent and bills all creeping up, a lot of us are looking for ways to bring in some extra cash without burning out.
In fact, the average cost of living in Nottingham is around £1,200 per month for a single person (not including rent) - and if you’re a student or young professional, that can feel like a lot.
The good news? Whether you’re studying at the Uni of Nottingham, working full-time, or just trying to stretch your income further, there are loads of legit, local-friendly ways to earn extra money right here in the city.
If you need help finding side-hustles, Prograd can help! Just look through our list of 100+ side hustles and you can start making extra cash in no time!
Here are 20 money-making ideas that actually work in Nottingham - including how much you could earn.
1. Rent Out Your Spare Room on Airbnb
Nottingham’s a big draw for tourists (hello, Robin Hood!), students, and business travellers. Got a spare room in Lenton, Mapperley, or The Park?
Renting on Airbnb could bring in £60–£90 per night depending on the area and time of year.
💸 Earning potential: £600–£1,200/month part-time
2. Become a Food Delivery Driver
With students, families and busy professionals all over the city, food delivery is huge here. Sign up for Deliveroo, Just Eat or Uber Eats and deliver around areas like Beeston, Arnold or Hockley.
🚲 Earning potential: £10–£16/hour (more on weekends or bad weather!)
3. Sell at Nottingham’s Car Boot Sales
Dust off your attic and sell your unwanted stuff at Colwick or Toton car boot sales. They're busy, friendly, and perfect if you’re clearing out or flipping secondhand goods.
🧼 Earning potential: £100+ in one morning
4. Offer Private Tutoring
Nottingham’s packed with students of all ages - from GCSE to postgrad. Use Tutorful or advertise locally to help with maths, English or science. Bonus if you speak another language!
📚 Earning potential: £20–£35/hour
5. Get Paid for Your Photography
Sneinton Market and Wollaton Park are Instagram gold. Upload your shots to Foap or sell prints on Etsy. You could also shoot local events or offer mini photo sessions.
📸 Earning potential: £10–£100 per photo/session
6. Work Events at Motorpoint Arena or Rock City
These venues host gigs, sports and shows all year round - and they’re always looking for staff. Think bar work, ticket scanning or backstage crew.
🎤 Earning potential: £10–£13/hour + perks like free shows
7. Sell on Facebook Marketplace or Shpock
Locals love a good deal, and apps like Marketplace are huge in Nottingham. Sell clothes, tech, furniture or even plants - and arrange easy meetups in safe areas like West Bridgford or Wollaton.
🪴 Earning potential: Depends, but a decluttered flat and £100+ in your pocket? Yes please.
8. Join a Focus Group
Companies and researchers (especially at Nottingham Trent and UoN) often need people for paid research. Think taste tests, opinion panels, or product trials.
🎯 Earning potential: £30–£100 per session
9. Become a Mystery Shopper
Nottingham’s packed with chain stores and independents - and mystery shopper agencies like Grass Roots or Retail Maxim pay you to review customer service. Easy money while you shop!
🛍 Earning potential: £5–£25 per visit + free meals/products
10. Babysit or Pet Sit Locally
Working families in areas like Carrington or Sherwood often need reliable sitters. Use TrustedHousesitters, Care.com, or advertise in local Facebook groups.
🐶 Earning potential: £8–£15/hour for babysitting; £20–£50/day for pet sitting
11. Rent Out Your Parking Space
Near the city centre or university campuses? Rent your space via JustPark or YourParkingSpace. With limited city parking, demand is high - especially during football season.
🚗 Earning potential: £50–£200/month
12. Deliver for Amazon Flex
If you've got a car and some spare time, delivering packages for Amazon Flex can be a flexible and well-paid gig.
📦 Earning potential: £13–£17/hour
13. Flip Finds from Local Charity Shops
Nottingham has amazing charity shops, especially around Beeston and West Bridgford. Hunt for underpriced gems and resell them on Vinted or Depop.
💡 Earning potential: £50–£300+/month depending on what you find
14. Host a Foreign Exchange Student
Check with local schools or agencies - you could earn up to £80 per week per student and it’s a great cultural experience too.
🌍 Earning potential: £320/month for one student
15. Get Paid to Be a Case Study
Follow hashtags like #journorequest on Twitter or sign up to sites like Take Part in Research. You might be asked to share your story - and get paid for it.
🗞 Earning potential: £50–£200 depending on the publication or study
16. Freelance Your Creative Skills
Graphic design, social media, writing - you name it. Use Fiverr, Upwork, or even offer services to Nottingham’s many local businesses and startups.
✍️ Earning potential: £15–£50/hour depending on skill
17. Become a Nottingham Tour Guide
Know your Robin Hood from your Sherwood Forest? Tourists love local insights. Run your own walking tours, or list on Airbnb Experiences.
🏹 Earning potential: £10–£25 per guest per tour
18. Rent Out Your Stuff
From bikes to cameras to musical instruments, rent your gear on Fat Llama or advertise locally. Nottingham has a strong student and creative scene - people will borrow your kit.
🎥 Earning potential: £10–£150/month depending on the item
19. Use Cashback and Discount Apps
Not technically “earning,” but it’s saving money you’d otherwise spend. Too Good To Go, Quidco and TopCashBack are all popular in Nottingham.
💰 Earning potential: £5–£30/month saved with no effort
20. Do Quick Jobs on TaskRabbit
From assembling IKEA furniture to helping with garden work, people in Nottingham need help - and they’re willing to pay for it.
🛠 Earning potential: £12–£25/hour depending on the task
Your Side Hustle = Your Rules
Whether you're hustling to cover rent, save for a trip, or just ease the pressure, there are loads of ways to make money in Nottingham - and many don’t require a big time commitment or fancy skills.
Try one, try five, or rotate through a few depending on what fits your schedule.
Want more ways to boost your budget? Check out Prograd’s tools to track your goals, cut costs, and build up savings - all in one place.
Happy hustling!
