How to Make Extra Money on the Side
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Whether you are an influencer looking to increase your monthly income or you want to become a social media manager, or you simply want to supplement the salary income with a few side jobs, there are ample ways to make money on the side. The gig economy is growing and is projected to reach $455.2 billion in gross volume by 2023. When inflation and rising costs disrupt your monthly budget, you can consider an alternative way of making money.
If you want to make money but do not know where to start, we have rounded up real ways you can make money on the side. While you might want to make money quickly, do not forget the small gigs since they can pay more if you stay consistent.
In this article
Make extra money on the side
Test apps and websites
You can make money from home by testing websites and apps through UserTesting.com. They will pay you for your observation or review on the website or apps. Simply complete a test to be accepted, and you will be paid based on the type of website or app you are testing. The setup takes less than an hour, but the approval time could vary. You need to be over 18, and you will start receiving testing opportunities after approval. You get paid seven days after completing the test.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Freelance work
You can make extra money through websites like Fiverr, Upwork, or freelancer.com. Through these sites, you can find different opportunities for freelancing jobs, including bookkeeping, marketing, graphic design, writing, or data entry. Depending on the type of work you pick up, focus on the hourly rate for the work you do so that you know if you are charging too little or too much. It might take some time to get your first gig, but it is easy to get started. The payment terms will vary by site; some require you to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
Sell on Etsy
If you have a penchant for jewelry making, woodworking, or pottery, you can sell the goods on Etsy. It has more than 96 million active buyers and is the go-to site for artisans. The setup is very easy; you only need to be above 13 years old to open an account. It could take a while for the customers to find you, but you will be able to open an Etsy shop and eventually have customers paying you for your wares. You will need the photos and descriptions of the posts to sell. Depending on your selling, it can range from a few days to weeks to find your first customer. You have complete rights to the merchandise sold in the shop.
Rideshare
Join a platform like Lyft as a driver and make money quickly. Ridesharing might not be for everyone, but it is a good side hustle if you enjoy driving. It will take a little bit of your time to create an account and go through the approval process. But once you are set up, you can earn in no time. You can drive and make money on your schedule without giving up on your day job. It has guaranteed earnings of $2,400 in the first month of driving if you meet the criteria. Lyft also comes with several perks and is an opportunity to make significant money from driving regularly. Besides Lyft, you can also consider Uber for the same service.
Affiliate marketing
Bloggers with decent traffic can make money through their affiliate network. With an Amazon affiliate, you will get paid each time a user clicks from your blog to the partner site to make a purchase. Several bloggers make significant money through this and have turned it into a full-time job.
Starting a blog is easy, but it could take longer to build a following. You will have to create content regularly, and you could get paid in a month. You can have a blog or a social media account with a healthy number of monthly visitors. If you have this, you can apply for and be approved by affiliate networks, including Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate, or Rakuten Advertising.
Become a dog sitter
If you love dogs, you can make extra cash by pet sitting. There are apps like Rover and Wag which have dog walking services. This will allow you to pick up the dog walks as per your schedule, and when you have spare time, you can also offer dog boarding for a night and make more money. The only requirement is to love pets, and you are good to go.
It will take about a week for Rover to approve your profile, and Wag could take from one to three weeks. You will be paid in two weeks through Stripe. However, you will need to live in an area where the service is available, and you will have to pass a background check.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Become a mystery shopper
Shopaholics will love this job! Businesses are keen to know how they perform from the consumer’s point of view, and you can become a mystery shopper for them. You will go to make a purchase or ask a question posing as a customer. This will help the business get more information about how customers are treated. You can make anywhere between $15 and $20 an hour.
Simply apply online through sites like BestMark or IntelliShop, and you are ready to go once you have approval. The payment will vary by company; you need reliable transportation and internet access. For BestMark, you need to be above the age of 18.
Rent a spare room
Vacation rentals are gaining popularity; renting out the entire home or a spare room can help make extra money. You might have to spend a little to keep the property clean and replace the home goods, but you can make extra income. Remember to review the rental agreement in detail.
Depending on the location of your room, your income will grow. Listing the property on Airbnb is easy, and you can start on the first day. Share photos of the room and comply with the rules of the portal. You will also have to comply with the landlord and homeowners association rules.
Rent your vehicle
With Turo, you can rent a vehicle you do not need regularly and make money from the side gig. If you own a car you do not need for a week, you can put it up on Turo and make money when others use it. The payment is made within three hours of the end of the rental.
Sell old things
If you want quick cash, you can sell old things using Craigslist. It will help you make money without the effort of shipping things across the country. Craigslist enjoys a strong reputation in the industry and has become a popular destination for shoppers trying to save money on different items. You can sell all sorts of things on the platform, from video game consoles to books.
Take surveys
Make extra money from home by taking online surveys. The sites might not offer a huge payoff, but they are useful if you are interested in earning gift cards. Survey Junkie and Swagbucks are two great survey sites. Their setup will only take a few minutes, but the approval might take some time. It is a great option to make money online if you are a beginner. While some sites let you cash out after you hit a minimum earnings threshold, the payment time will depend on the site. Some also issue points that can be redeemed for gift cards or cash back through PayPal.
Teach English
Becoming a private tutor can make the most of your English expertise. Help people learn English online or in person. You can charge according to your expertise and experience. To get started, you can simply create a profile on sites like tutor.com, and the approval time will vary by the subject matter.
The students will have to find you, which may take a little while. There is no age threshold here, and you also get paid quickly. To succeed, you need extensive knowledge in the area. No matter the subject you want to teach, you are good to go if you have educational qualifications and knowledge.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Sell fairly used clothes
Many of us have wardrobes filled with clothes, and selling the clothes you do not need anymore is a great way to make quick bucks. You can either head to the consignment shops or opt for sites like Poshmark and ThredUp to find the right buyers. Remember to take clear photos of the pieces and set the right prices.
Setting up a sales channel is easy, and the payment will vary based on your chosen channel. Some consignment shops give you cash immediately, while online consignment shops will take some time to pay. You can sell gently worn clothing, accessories, or shoes. The items will go through inspections before being accepted.
Babysit
People of all ages can make money by looking after others' children. Word-of-mouth is a good way to begin, but you can also create a profile on Sittercity or Care.com and reach out to people. If you have a special skill set like CPR certification, you will be in high demand.
You only need to start with getting the word out and you can be paid on the spot. You can take as many babysitting gigs as time allows and must be above 18 if you are registering on a portal. They may also require you to go through a background check. Babysitting can become a consistent part-time job.
Sign up on TaskRabbit
Those who love putting things together or standing in long lines to help others can sign up on TaskRabbit. The website will easily connect you with those needing help with handyman services, moving, delivery, or cleaning. You can find many online and virtual tasks that can help make money on the side, including virtual assistant roles.
Depending on your skills, you will make money, and it will also decide the time you spend on the task. You need to do some research before you start, but it is easy to open an account and create a profile. You can start accepting tasks after the profile is approved. After the approval, you can pay a fee of $25, and once the task is complete, you will be paid through a direct deposit.
Become a housesitter
You can make money by watching someone’s home. Use your personal network or referrals to get started. Alternatively, you can register yourself on housesitter.com to connect with homeowners who need people to look after their homes. You can make anywhere between $25 to $45 a day. You will get paid at the end of the gig and positive word of mouth can make a huge difference.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
FAQs
Can I earn money online?
Yes, there are several online gigs you can take up and make money. These could be part-time projects you work on like testing websites or taking surveys. You can also earn passive income through affiliate marketing.
What are the risks of the gig economy?
The biggest risk associated with the gig economy are the scams. You need to watch out for money-making scams. There are many out there and you need to keep your eyes and mind open. Be wary of an opportunity that asks you to pay an upfront fee or requires you to share your bank details or Social Security number. Check out community forums for reviews before you sign up for an opportunity.
How can I make money fast?
Depending on the type of skills you have, you can put them to use and make money. If you have educational qualifications, you can build an online course and sell it, help market a podcast or start a small business. It might be tough to find a gig overnight but you will certainly land one if you watch out for the right opportunities. For opportunities to make money from home, you can consider renting out a room or selling used clothes.
The bottom line
As you can see, ample opportunities exist to make extra money on the side. The great thing about it is that you can turn a few of them into full-time jobs. The opportunities are many, all you have to do is identify the ones that work for you and if you are good at it, you will have clients flowing in. Save the money you make from the side gigs and invest it in the right manner to continue generating passive income.
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Editor
Vandita Jadeja is a financial writer and editor at Joywallet. She loves to read and write about money and brings a decade of experience from the financial industry.
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