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Make Hundreds to Thousands each month! There can be so many different ways to make extra money and it doesn’t have to be so hard. You can even make side money on top of a part time or full time job.Â
Having extra cash on hand can do so much! You can use it to pay down debt, pursue your dreams, go on a vacation, put some money away towards savings or investments, and so much more.
For us, we made extra cash on the side to help put that towards our debt. Making side money helped us quickly pay down more than $50,000 within 10 months.
There’s a lot of options out there to make some side cash. I’ll share 16 of the best ways to make some good side money.
1. Online Survey Companies
Did you know you can actually make money online for taking surveys, answering polls, trying out apps, playing games, and so much more?
The earnings you make probably won’t help you retire but you definitely can earn some side cash doing the simplest things online through these survey companies. Here’s 3 of the ones that’s most popular now.
Swagbucks
With Swagbucks, you earn points for taking surveys or polls, watch videos, play games on your phone, shop online through Swagbucks’ site to get points, complete daily goals, enter competitions, try out apps, sign up for free trial services, and refer others.
Swagbucks uses a point system where you get awarded with SB points, you can then redeem those points for cash back via PayPal or gift cards through popular companies like Amazon, PayPal, Walmart, Visa, iTunes, Starbucks, eBay, and so much more.
Swagbucks offers so many different ways to get points but I use it mostly to try out games. Swagbucks will reward me with points which converts into cash or gift cards. So far I’ve earned over 14,010 SB points which turns to $140 for playing games and taking surveys here and there.
Sign up for free here at Swagbucks and earn a $10 welcome bonus
InboxDollars
InboxDollars is similar to Swagbucks where you can earn money taking surveys, playing games, and watching videos. If you want additional sources to make more side money then signing up with InboxDollars would be great. So far they have paid out over $50,000,000 so far to millions of members.
Join InboxDollars for free and get your instant $5 just for joining.
Survey Junkie
If you’d rather just stick with taking surveys then Survey Junkie is more for you. When you complete a survey you’ll get points and for every 1000 points you’ll get a $10 gift card or cash via PayPal. On top of simple surveys, they even offer phone surveys which can pay $5-$100, Test some products to make $5-$50, and join focus groups that pay anywhere from $25-$150. Realistically, you can expect to make anywhere from $3-$10 a day. If you make $10 a day for 30 days straight, that’s $300 a month. Not too shabby.
Sign up for free here at Survey Junkie and start earning
Don’t expect this to replace your full time job or get rich quick. It’s just a great way to make some extra side money while you have some spare time.
2. Work Online
Whether you want to create a side hustle or simply try working online, there’s a few ways you can do that.
Teach English Online
Have you ever thought of teaching? How about teaching kids from other countries how to speak and read English? You can set your own hours and you don’t even have to know the foreign language to teach. The best part is, you can teach from your own home via online, and make up to $22 an hour. How awesome is that?
Requirements Needed:
- 2 years of teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or coaching experience
- Bachelor’s degree in any major
- Be legally eligible to work in US or Canada
- Have reliable technology
Learn more about how you can get started at VIPKid
Proofread Online
If you consider yourself a fairly detail oriented person and always pick up on errors when you’re reading something then you many consider taking up proofreading people’s work and get paid for it. According to Ziprecruiter, a professional proofreader can make up to an average of $25. Proofreaders with more experience can make around $30-$35 an hour.
You can actually turn this side gig into a career. However, if you’re just starting out, you’ll need to build up your references and work first.
Be a proofreader on sites such as Gramlee, Flexjobs, Proofreadingservices, and others.
Be an Online Transcriber
Are you a good listener and can type fast? Maybe you can earn some money with those skills by being a Transcriber.
As a Transcriber, you’ll convert audio files into text for companies and businesses. These audio files can range from lectures to podcasts.
The best part is that you don’t need experience to start and can make anywhere from $240 per month to $1,500 on Rev.
Be a transcriber on Rev with no experience required
Data Entry Jobs
Have you ever wanted to work from home doing data entry? You can be in charge of your own schedule and not have to answer to any boss, just work independently.
Doing data entry or digital task work may be right for you.
Some of the tasks may include creating or correcting text, participating in surveys, search or categorize data, analyze data, and more depending on the projects offered.
You can expect to make anywhere from $6-$40 an hour with $12-$15 an hour being the average rate.
From doing a bit of research on Quora, you can make the most by getting jobs with UHRS, which is a client of Clickworker.
This is what’s offered on Clickworker
Find online jobs with Clickworker
Be a Freelancer
Do you have a certain skill that can help other people out? You can certainly create your own business out of it and work independently.
That’s where Fiverr comes in. Fiverr is a global hub for all things freelance!
They have so many freelancers on there that offer skills as service like
- Graphic design
- Excel / Google
- Be a virtual assistant
- Photo editing
- Write, edit, or proofread
- Marketing
- Programming
- SEO optimization
- Voice Over
- Transcription
- Offer social media services
If you’re interested, you can easily create an account and start selling your services. Fiverr is a trusted site which I even turn to when I need help with my website or I’m trying to figure something out with Excel. It’s worth checking out, you may be able to launch your freelance journey with Fiverr.
Become a freelancer on Fiverr
3. Get Cash Back When You Shop
Do you hate going through circulars or searching all over the internet to find the best deals? I know I do, it can be so time consuming. That’s why I LOVE cash back apps and sites. They’re super easy to use! You get instant savings and cash back with just a click.
Ibotta
Ibotta has over 300 stores that participate in their program. Ibotta gives you cash back for shopping at your favorite grocery stores and big retailers. They have all your main grocery stores like Kroger, H-E-B, C-Town, Aldi, Foodtown, Randalls, SHOP ‘n SAVE, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and so much more. It’s a very simple app to use and you get real money back which you can cash out once you earn $20.
Not only can you get cash back for grocery shopping with Ibotta, you can also earn money back with other categories like grocery pickup and delivery, online shopping, beer, wine & spirits, clothing, health & beauty, specialty, restaurants & bars, convenience, travel, home & auto, kids & baby, pet supply, sports & outdoors, and subscription & delivery. There’s over 300 stores to choose from.
Sign up for free at Ibotta and use the code YDIGCFJ to get your $20 welcome bonus
All you do is add items you plan to buy to your list.
I received $8.75 cash back from a recent shopping trip.
Checkout 51 Cash Back App
Checkout 51 is very similar to Ibotta. You can get cash back from groceries and hygiene products. Just upload your receipt and redeem for cash once you hit $20. What’s great about Checkout 51 is that you can also get cash back at the gas pump and they offer a digital Prescription Savings Card which can save you up to 80% on medications.
Sign up for free and get your $5 bonus at Checkout 51 to start earning cash back the easy way.
Tip: Earn $2 when you upload your first receipt and $1 for each receipt three times after that which gives you a total of $5 bonus cash.
GetUpside Cash Back App
GetUpside is another easy cash back app to use. You can get money back on restaurants, groceries (Washington D.C. area), and Gas.
You can see savings as much as 35% at restaurants, 15% at grocery stores, and 25c/gal of gas.
It’s very easy to use, all you have to do is claim the offer presented, simply upload your receipt, and get cash back. Once you hit $15, you can get cash back via PayPal or reach $50 to get a cash payout.
Download GetUpside and use the promo code U5NBX to get $7 cash back on your first purchase
Fetch Rewards App
Fetch Rewards is another easy app you can use to earn cash back to redeem for gift cards or magazine subscriptions. This can come in handy when you want to give out gift cards for birthdays or holidays.
All you need to do is scan your receipts from most grocery stores, pharmacy, convenience store, and big retailers. You will then earn points which convert to cash.
Use the code 7JKFH when you sign up to Fetch Rewards and you’ll get 2,000 Fetch Points ($2.00 in points)
You can also refer others and earn 2,000 points ($2) yourself and your friend/family will earn 2,000 points ($2) as well.
Rakuten
Rakuten is awesome when you’re doing any online shopping. You can get as much as 40% cash back when you go through Rakuten to shop. They have over 2,500 stores that participate with them in all sorts of categories from clothing & accessories, travel, health & beauty, shoes & handbags, electronics & office, home, auto, pets, baby/kids & toys, sports & outdoors, food & entertainment, books & media, and gifts & flowers.
Once you reach at least $5 in cash back, you’ll get a check mailed to you or they can pay you via PayPal.
It’s very easy to start getting cash back with Rakuten. All you do is sign up and you’re brought to their home page where they have a list of all their cash back deals. If I ever want to buy something online, I always go through Rakuten first to see if there are any deals.
For instance, if I wanted to get something from Petco, I’ll go to Rakuten first. Once I’m there, I see that today there’s a 4.0% cash back being offered. So all I do is click “Shop Now” and it’ll bring me to Petco’s website where I’ll resume my normal online shopping. It’s so simple to use and it keeps me saving money over time.
I also like going through Rakuten when I shop for travel tickets. They often have cash back for sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, Travelzoo, hotels, and so much more.
So far I’ve earned $51.46 + $50 (other account) which brings me a total of $101.46 cash back just by using Rakuten.
Sign up today with Rakuten to get $10 in a welcome bonus and be on your way to start earning cash back for online purchases.
4. Find Missing Money
Did you know there could be a check for hundreds to thousands of dollars with your name on it that’s waiting for you.
Maybe you moved or money just never made it your way. It’s easy to check if you have money waiting for you. Go to Missingmoney and fill out your information. If you have unclaimed funds, it should notify you of how much you’re owed and from where.
According to Missingmoney, the money could be from old bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, trust funds, CDs, utility deposits, stocks and bonds, wages, and escrow accounts.
A few months ago, my husband got back over $100 from an old insurance policy he never received money back from.
5. Drive for UBER/Lyft
Driving for UBER or Lyft can be a great way to make some side money. You get paid to drive passengers around. Just keep in mind that maintenance and gas will come out of your own pockets. In order to enroll as a driver, you’ll need a car in good condition, fair driving record, agree to a background check, and be a licensed driver for at least one year.
Find out more information about requirements here.
It’s a pretty easy job and definitely something you can do whenever you feel like it. What’s great about being a driver is that you work when you want and get to work for yourself. There’s no boss breathing down your neck.
My husband actually drove for UBER and made about $1,500 in less than 2 months. This was while he had a 8-5 job. He usually worked his side gig in the evenings or on the weekends.
Overall, he had a good experience driving for UBER. If you like driving and meeting different people then driving for UBER or Lyft is for you.
6. Find a Babysitting Job
Do you love taking care of kids? You can get paid to do what you love! There are lots of people out there that need someone to look after their kids when they go to work. You can ask around to find babysitting jobs through friends, family, or neighbors. You can also find babysitting jobs on Care.com where you can sign up for free. Make yourself a profile and look for jobs near you. You can also set your own rate. Some people charge anywhere from $15-$20. It all depends. But hey, that’s pretty good money to do something you love!
7. Be a Dog Walker or Sitter
Do you love animals? Being a animal walker or sitter may provide a great opportunity to do what you love while make extra money on the side. There are pet owners out there that work all day and may have long shifts so they need people to take their pets for a walk. There are also times when people go on trips/vacations and they feel more comfortable leaving their pets in a home rather than a dog boarding facility. I have seen people charge on average $25 and upwards to $45 per dog and night. If you think this side gig can bring you some nice side money while doing what you like then check out Rover.
8. Mow Lawns
Would you happen to have a good lawn mower? You can definitely mow lawns for people in your neighborhood and charge anywhere from $25-$65 per home (going rate in my area). It can be easy to advertise, just leave some flyers for your neighbors or place a post on a neighborhood app called Nextdoor. Nextdoor is a private social app where only your close neighborhoods can see listings for everything including jobs, selling items, services, recommendations for businesses, and so much more. Nextdoor is how I found my lawn crew through recommendations from other people using the app. If you have some free time in the evenings or weekends, mowing a few lawns a week can bring you hundreds each month!
9. Deliver Food
Do you like driving but don’t want to drive passengers around? Well, there are plenty of restaurants that may need part time drivers. The pay can range from $10-$30 an hour depending on tips, location, and peak delivery times.
If you want to be your own boss and work on your own time, you can make a side hustle out of delivering food to people by using third party companies.
How it works is, say for instance a person wants some Taco Bell but doesn’t feel like going to get it. They place an order through one of the sites below. You will get a notification of the order and can decide whether or not you want to take it. Once you accept, you drive to Taco Bell, pick up the order, deliver it to the customer, and get paid for it. Easy peasy!
Some of the most well known are:
- Postmates Potential to make $18-$25 an hour
- UBER Eats Potential to make $10-$20 an hour
- DoorDash Potential to make $15-$25 an hour
- GrubHub Potential to make an average of $12 an hour
10. Deliver Groceries
There’s all sorts of delivery services out there. There’s a demand for grocery delivery these days. Sometimes people get busy with life and the last thing they want to do is go out to shop and bring home groceries. Or some people may have a hard time going shopping so they may need others to do it for them. That’s where you can come in.
Instacart is a grocery delivery service where you can either be a customer ordering groceries to your home or get paid to be an in-store shopper or a full service shopper. An in-store shopper is an employee of Instacart where they put grocery orders together for deliveries. A full service shopper are those who shops for groceries and delivers them to customers. In-store shoppers can typically make $9-$15 an hour and if you’re a full service shopper you can “make up to $25 an hour” according to Instacart.
Sign up to be a shopper at Instacart with this link.
11. Overtime or Extra Shifts Will Provide Extra Money Easily
If you already have a permanent job, do they offer overtime or extra shifts? This can be a great way to make extra money each month. It can be a very fast and effective way to bring in extra cash. But remember, there must be a balance between your sanity and work. Making more money is great but not at the expense of your health or personal life. This way may be the easiest to make extra money but finding the right balance is essential!
12. Sell Products For Avon
Do you love cosmetics and skin care products? You can actually sell them yourself and make a great side hustle out of it by becoming a representative for Avon. You don’t have to go door to door to sell the products.
It’s really easy to do actually. I was a Avon Rep. at one point many years ago. I sold to a few of my co-workers at my full time job because they absolutely loved Avon products. It was a good experience overall. I could definitely see the potential to make great side money or even good income from it.
As an Avon Rep, you can make 25% commission on beauty products plus $20 for every $200 and 10% bonus on $1,000 worth of cumulative sales. It can definitely bring you some nice side hustle money without really needing to put in much work. You can even make a full time living with Avon, the average salary is $42,968 a year.
If you like beauty products then maybe selling Avon products is something you can get into.
In case you’re interested, the sign up is free with this link.
13. Sell Items For An Easy Way To Make Extra Money
It’s possible to make hundreds or even thousands just by selling items around the house. Do you have fancy handbags, shoes, clothes, furniture, and electronics that you don’t even use anymore? Instead of it collecting dust, sell it!
So far, I sold a few items of furniture that was laying around the house and ended up making a few hundred from the sales.
Selling items you may have laying around could be one of the fastest ways to make extra money!
Apps and Sites to Sell Items
- Ebay Sell video games and consoles, tech, clothes, handbags, shoes, auto parts, baseball cards, bicycles, cameras, electronics, golf equipment, jewelry, books, records, watches, pretty much anything you can think of
- decluttr Sell CDs, DVDs, Games, Books, Cell Phone, Tech, Tablets, Lego
- Letgo Sell electronics, sporting equipment, cars, motorcycles, furniture, appliances, clothes, shoes, and more
- Poshmark Sell clothing, shoes, accessories, makeup products, and some home goods
- Mercari Sell clothing, accessories, shoes, toys, electronics, kitchen ware, pretty much anything you can ship
- Offerup Sell almost anything from appliances, furniture, cars, clothes, electronics, shoes, jewelry (Shipping and meet up available)
- Facebook Marketplace Sell pretty much anything from furniture, cars, appliances, electronics, kitchen ware, office supplies, books, clothes, toys, shoes and more
- Nextdoor Sell cars, furniture, clothing, appliances, kitchen ware, shoes, toys, home decor, and more (Neighborhood app)
- 5 Miles Sell cars, accessories, furniture, toys, jewelry, clothes, bicycles, home decor, and more
- Craigslist Sell cars, bikes, electronics, appliances, kitchen ware, tools, furniture, clothes, jewelry, exercise equipment, and more
14. Make Money With Car Advertisements
Have you ever seen cars with an ad placed on their car? Guess what? They’re making money from that. You can make anywhere from $84 to $452 a month with Wrapify.
Depending Factors
- How much time you drive
- When you drive
- Where you drive
- How much of the ad covers your car. You make more by covering the full car with an ad.
If you do a lot of driving then making side money with Wrapify may be good for you. Another bonus is you can be an UBER or Lyft driver. This may bring in even more money as a rideshare driver, since you’ll be on the road A LOT.
15. Sell Your Skills
Do you possess skills and you are good at what you do? Why not make a side gig out of it? You can make some great side money from skills you possess.
I have a co-worker who is so creative and crafty. She makes wreaths during the holidays and sells them on Ebay or through Nextdoor. However, what if you’re not crafty? There are plenty of other things you can do to make extra money like sewing, handyman work, fixing computers, among so much more.
If you have a skill set, why not help other people, plus you can set your own rate.
16. Donate Plasma
You may be wondering what the heck is plasma? Sounds kinda scary I know. Plasma is actually part of your blood. When blood goes through a machine to separate components, it’s the clear liquid that remains. Plasma contains mostly water, enzymes, antibodies, and proteins. It pretty much contains all the good stuff for our bodies. Well, plasma is high in demand. It’s often used to help other sick people or goes to companies that use it for research and create products out of it to help those with blood disorders and other chronic ailments.
When you donate plasma you can often make $25 to $50 per donation. Also, some donation centers offer first timer donor bonuses which can easily increase your earnings.
The process of donating plasma is similar to donating blood but it takes longer, it could take 1-2 hours. First your blood gets drawn, it goes through a machine to separate the plasma and the blood gets returned back to your body. It’s recommended to wait at least 48 hours before donating again. To find out more info, check out this FAQ page from DonatingPlasma.org.
I found this coupon from Bio Life Plasma where they say new donors can earn $600 in 8 donations. $600 sounds like some pretty good side cash I’d say.
Plasma Donation Centers
Takeaway
There are so many ways to make extra money without severely putting a strain on your regular life. If you choose to take on side gigs, pick something that you enjoy and doesn’t cause too much stress in your life. Otherwise, you may not stick with it in the long run. If you have a bit of extra time, why not use it to be productive and bring in extra money. It’ll only help you in the long run.
Did you also know that freeing up money by paying down debt will give your financial situation an enormous boost. Think about it, you could be saving hundreds and thousands of dollars in interest if you don’t have debt payments. We’ve managed to knock out over $100,000 worth of debt in just 24 months.
If you want to start knocking out some debt right away, get started by grabbing your free Debt Thermometer and joining our free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp.