More and more, the digital age is rewriting the way we think about our careers. Having a "job" no longer has to mean putting on a suit and tie and clocking in your 9-to-5. This is great news for the young mom who needs to work around her kids' daycare schedule, the semi-retiree who can't stand sitting still, the construction worker wondering how to make money when unemployed, or anyone else who just wants an alternative to the traditional workforce.

If you're exploring alternative ways to make money, here are eight ideas.

Freelancing can be incredibly appealing for many people looking to make extra cash. Many successful freelancers have even made their work a full-time business. After all, there are some nice benefits to freelancing: You get to be your own boss. You can set your working hours (we're talking to you, night owls!). You can decide how much work you want to take on at any given time.

Where do you begin? The key to starting in the freelance world is to find your niche. Are you a fantastic designer? Do you code like no one's business? Can you take one look at a person's yard and recommend plants that would fit their landscape? Don't be afraid to get creative—you might have specialized skills that are more marketable than you think.

Tools of the trade: There are plenty of freelance platforms to help connect clients to freelancers, especially in the digital world. Platforms like Upwork and Toptal can set you up to get paid for services like writing, designing, programming, and project management. Social media can also be extremely helpful in marketing your services and connecting you with clients.

As more people prefer to shop online, it naturally follows that sellers are moving online, too: for instance, craft coffee makers who sell creative new flavors; sewers who design clothing with all-organic dyes; carpenters with handmade oak furniture. With the right blend of passion and skill, you can make money by building a successful online business for yourself.

Tools of the trade: Platforms like Etsy and eBay have made online sales easier than ever because they can handle a lot of the back-end work for you. If you're more computer savvy, you can cut the third party and build your own e-commerce site. Or, some people prefer to list products on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

You also shouldn't discount in-person events like local craft markets. Not only can you sell products at the event, but you can expand your reach by promoting your online store or social media page.

As the name suggests, digital products—like ebooks, online courses, digital art, photography, business templates, and computer software—exist entirely online. Unlike with physical products, you don't ship them, there aren't any manufacturing costs, and you don't need a special place to store them. For those reasons, they can be a great source of passive income. This means once you have the products, you earn money without actively doing much work for it. Sounds pretty appealing, right?

A quick word of caution: It still takes work to make and market the product. Plus, as anyone who works in the digital sphere can tell you, the online landscape is changing all the time, so you may need to update or refresh your product down the road.

Tools of the trade: There are plenty of great selling options, depending on your product. You may want to set up your own website so you have complete control over how the product is packaged and priced. Or you can use platforms specially designed for digital products, such as Amazon Kindle for ebooks, Shutterstock for photography, and Teachable for courses.

If you're looking for more passive income sources, this could be worth considering. Maybe you bought a bunch of tools for a recent renovation project that you'll likely never use again. Why not get your money back by renting them out? Or, you have a beautiful cabin that you only use for three months out of the year. Why not use a vacation rental site to help pay the bills?

Tools of the trade: There are plenty of platforms designed for renting, depending on the asset. For properties, there are sites like Airbnb and Vrbo. For individual items, online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Fat Llama may be options to explore.

Someone has to water the ficus and walk Cuddles while the family's away. This likely won't be a career gig, but pet-sitting and house-sitting can be a great way to earn some extra cash, especially once you establish yourself as a responsible and careful sitter.

Tools of the trade: Did you know there are websites that help families find sitters while they're away? Two examples are TrustedHousesitters and HouseSitter.com. If you're looking to do this more regularly, these platforms may help you connect with potential job listings.

We're not talking about some kind of AI software. A virtual assistant is someone who helps take care of administrative tasks like scheduling, contacting clients, billing, and organizing documents (the specific responsibilities will vary from job to job). If you're an organized person who loves a good spreadsheet but hates coming to the office every day, this could be the ideal role for you to make money.

Tools of the trade: You may want to explore platforms like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn Jobs, which commonly list virtual assistant opportunities.

If you've built yourself an online following, why not use it to make money? With affiliate marketing, companies will pay influencers to advertise a product or service on behalf of the company. You've likely seen this type of marketing when your favorite fitness blogger raves about her Adidas shoes on Instagram, or your go-to car influencer test-drives the new Ford Bronco Sport.

The key to affiliate marketing is connecting with companies that make sense for your brand. If you're a professional dancer who does YouTube dance tutorials, it would be a great fit to partner with an activewear company. If you've built a popular travel blog, a travel agency or airline would make sense.

Tools of the trade: A common first step to successful affiliate marketing is to put out good content. If you have a big enough following and your viewers are engaged, companies may contact you about partnerships. But if you'd rather take the initiative, some e-commerce sites like Shopify and Rakuten have designated affiliate marketing programs to connect brands and influencers.

If you have some extra cash or are looking to grow your long-term savings, investing in the market or real estate is a smart way to make your money do more for you. There are plenty of investing options in the market, so it's a good idea to sit down and figure out your timeline, risk tolerance, and financial goals before choosing an investment option.

Tools of the trade: When it comes to investing, you can be as involved as your time — and comfort level — allows. Self-directed investing platforms like Wealthsimple and Questtrade may be possible options if you prefer a hands-on approach and can handle a higher risk tolerance. If you're more of a set-it-and-forget-it investor, having a financial advisor manage your portfolio for you might be a good choice.

Yes, many people have successfully made a sustainable, long-term income using many of the above methods. However, as many freelancers, small business owners, and influencers will tell you, it often takes time, effort, and creativity to get there.

It depends on how you think of "special skills." Some of the above methods, like freelancing, digital sales, and virtual assistant work, require technical expertise to do. Others simply require passion and a willingness to learn. As you explore your options, you may find that you have more profitable skills than you realize.

Many of these options can be used to make supplementary income if you're facing a layoff. Keep in mind that if you're collecting unemployment income, there are limits to the amount of money you are allowed to make while receiving payments.

Looking to take charge of your financial goals? There are countless ways to earn money without a traditional job and to start saving your earnings effectively. With EarnIn’s Tip Yourself1 tool, you can effortlessly save a portion of your earnings to reach your financial goals faster.

No matter how you choose to earn, EarnIn helps you stay on track by setting aside money automatically, so you can focus on growing your income without the stress of manual budgeting.