The new austerity measures laid down by the coalition government mean that many of us will have to tighten our purse strings in the coming months, making that much-needed Easter holiday just a figment of our imagination for another year. While sticking to a budget and finding ways of cutting back on spending are highly advisable, with a little imagination and extra effort there are actually ways you can make money. Below are various ways you can make some extra cash, help wave goodbye to those recession blues and say hello to the blue seas and skies of your preferred Easter holiday destinations.

Sell stuff online – There could be thousands of pounds worth of old items lying around your home which are taking up space and collecting dust. Why not have a clear-out and sell your stuff online. Selling your old items online has become easier, with many websites now specialising in exactly this. Try musicmagpie.co.uk for a start.

Cashback sites – You can earn money from shopping online. Cashback sites will pay you each time you buy a product or service from selected retailers, whether it involves you buying your weekly groceries or switching your utility provider.

Display adverts on your car – Earn up to £250 per month for an advert on your car. The companies will insure you for any damage caused by applying or removing the adhesive.

Sell your digital photo library – Company websites, online magazines and corporate presentations require a constant supply of imagery. You can cash in on this by uploading your pictures to an online agency. The best ones will pay you 40 per cent commission on all images used which can make you up to £3.00 per picture, paid straight into your bank account.

Find a lodger for your spare room – Do you have a spare room which is doubling up as a storage area? Clear the room out and fill it with a lodger. The government is so ashamed of the lack of affordable housing in Britain that it won’t even charge you tax on the rent you earn up to £4,250 a year, under the government’s ‘rent a room’ scheme. If you rent, this is also open to you if you want to sub-let under this scheme – as long as your tenancy agreement allows lodgers.

Turn your music into money – Many people now have their music stored on their phones, PCs and laptops. If this is you, why not get rid of the of the old CD collection? If you’ve ever thought to yourself, ‘Why don’t I try and sell my stuff online’ there are now Smartphone apps available which allow you to simply scan the barcode on your CDs, DVDs and unwanted computer games which will then generate the sum it is worth. Have a look at musicmagpie.co.uk.