How I Earned £1,500 By Renting My Spare Room On Airbnb – What You Need To Know Before You Dive In

The Unexpected Side Hustle

It feels like January drags on forever, especially when you're counting down the days until payday. The aftermath of holiday spending combined with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis pushes many to search for new income streams. This year, if you're on the hunt for financial boosts, consider this unexpected yet rewarding option – renting out your spare room on Airbnb.

Forget about OnlyFans – hosting on Airbnb brought in a cool £1,500 for me, which funded a significant chunk of a dream trip to Thailand. My husband and I, fresh off our wedding and first home purchase, found ourselves invited to a destination wedding in Koh Samui. With savings depleted, we decided to leverage our new asset – our home – by listing our spare room on Airbnb.

From Doubts to Dollars

Initially, I was hesitant. Sharing our personal space with strangers wasn't high on my to-do list. Concerns about safety and disruption loomed, but research reassured us that we could decline bookings from guests with questionable profiles. Having enjoyed Airbnb stays ourselves, we decided to take the plunge and list our room.

"I worried, who would pay £20 a night for a simple room in suburban Stockport? Surprisingly, plenty were willing," I reflected.

The bookings started flowing in, and our concerns faded. Guests came for diverse reasons: gaming conventions, family reunions, even just a convenient crash pad. Most kept to themselves, and our privacy remained intact.

Lessons Learned on the Hosting Journey

We discovered hosting was more than just a financial boon. It was a chance to meet fascinating people from around the globe. Whether it was a couple from Germany and Mexico preferring the local experience or a British family exploring alternative education, each guest brought something new to our lives.

However, hosting isn’t without challenges. Airbnb faces criticism for contributing to housing crises in major cities, though our home-sharing model differed from whole property rentals. We learned crucial hosting lessons, like the importance of setting a minimum stay to reduce turnover and communicating effectively with guests.

While hosting was a temporary plan to fund our travels, it turned into an enriching experience. "Would we do it again? Not with a young child at home, but perhaps in the future," I pondered. Reflecting on those months, it was an eye-opening journey that paid off both financially and personally.