The 80/20 of it: Every idea here asks for a small effort to get started, and that is your 20%. The 80% is the payoff you get back.

Plenty of homeowners want a lit roofline by December and have no wish to climb a ladder to get it. Angi puts the average professional install at $444, with most standard displays costing $220 to $684, and neighbors would often rather hire someone they already wave to.

The 80%: Stick to single story homes and you skip the tall ladders and the hardest jobs. Angi's own guide puts a small one story display at about $250, so three houses over one weekend comes to about $750, and you can charge again to take them down in January. Work with a helper holding the ladder, and say no to steep roofs. Every house you light this year can turn into an easy repeat booking next year.

1. Light your own house first. Do a clean roofline on your own home and take a photo at dusk. That one photo is your whole portfolio.

2. Post it to the neighborhood. Share the photo on Nextdoor and in local Facebook groups with one simple price for single story homes.

3. Book the takedown on the spot. When you hang the lights, put the January takedown in the calendar so the second payday is already locked in.

Total time: About 2 to 3 hours per single story house, with a helper.

Plenty of us have a phone sitting in a drawer since the last upgrade. On Swappa, a used iPhone 13 with 128 GB has recently sold for about $247 on average, and sellers pay a flat 3 percent fee plus payment processing.

The 80%: A $247 sale works out to roughly $230 after Swappa's 3 percent and PayPal's 3.49 percent plus 49 cents. The same price page lists trade in offers for that phone at around $130, so about 15 minutes of photos and a listing could be worth about $100 more than handing it back to a carrier. Got an old tablet or smartwatch in there too? Same steps.

1. Clear it properly. Back it up, sign out of your Apple or Google account, and factory reset it. The phone needs to be paid off and unlocked from your account.

2. Shoot six photos. Front, back, both sides, the screen switched on, and the battery health page, all on a plain table in daylight.

3. Price it off recent sales. Check the price page for your exact model and storage, list a few dollars under the average, and ship it as soon as it sells.

Total time: About 15 minutes to list, plus one trip to drop off the box.

Holiday parties and work dinners mean a lot of parents need someone they trust for one evening. Care.com says posted babysitter rates average $19.81 an hour nationally, with higher rates in pricier cities.

The 80%: A date night booking can mean the kids are asleep for half of it. A four hour Saturday at about $20 an hour is $80, and two of those a month is about $160. Families who like you tend to book you again, so a couple of regulars can fill your calendar without any more searching.

1. Build a profile parents trust. Add a friendly photo, your experience with kids, and any CPR or first aid certificate. Say yes to the background check.

2. Start with people you know. Tell friends and neighbors with young kids that you are taking bookings, and ask the first families to leave you a review.

3. Bring a sitter sheet. A simple card for bedtimes, allergies, and emergency numbers shows parents you take it seriously.

Total time: Usually 3 to 5 hours per booking, mostly evenings and weekends.

If you were good at algebra, chemistry, or essay writing, a student somewhere is stuck on it tonight. On Wyzant you set your own hourly rate and keep 75 percent of it, and you keep all of it for students you bring to the platform yourself.

The 80%: You already know the material, so there is nothing new to learn. Set $40 an hour and you keep $30, so two online sessions a week from the kitchen table comes to about $240 a month. One or two regular weekly students keep that steady without more searching.

1. Pick one subject. Choose the subject you could teach without notes and get approved for it first. You can add more later.

2. Price to get started. Set a rate a little under similar tutors so your first students take a chance on you, then raise it after a few good reviews.

3. Reply within the hour. Students often message several tutors at once. A fast, friendly reply with a suggested first time wins the booking.

Total time: About an hour per session, from home.

If your car sits in the driveway most of the week, Turo lets you rent it to travelers and locals who need one. US hosts keep 70 to 90 percent of the trip price depending on the earnings plan they pick, and every plan includes third party liability insurance.

The 80%: The car is already parked and paid for. If it rents for $50 a day and gets booked eight days a month on the 80 percent plan, that is about $320 a month toward the car payment. Turo handles the bookings and payments, and you choose which days it is available. Check with your own insurer and any lender first, since some do not allow it.

1. Check the rules first. Make sure your car's age, mileage, and value qualify, and pick the earnings plan that matches how much risk you are comfortable with.

2. List it with great photos. Wash it, shoot it in daylight from every angle, and block out the days you need it yourself.

3. Make handoffs easy. Offer one simple pickup spot near home and send the same short checklist with every booking.

Total time: About an hour to list, then around 15 minutes per handoff.