The No.
1 rule of personal finance is to spend less than you earn.
So if you want to get ahead financially, it’s important to save money where you can.
But if you really want to improve
your finances, there’s the flip side of that equation to consider as well
– making more money. With a side hustle or money-making hobby, you can give
yourself a raise whether your employer wants to or not.
Here’s the truth no one wants to talk about:
Learning how to
make money can improve your finances in ways that saving money simply cannot.
There are only so many ways to save, but there are an unlimited number of ways
to earn extra money you can use to pay down debt, save for the future, or
actually have some fun.
If you’re eager to boost your earnings but
don’t know where to start, this list should provide you with a few ideas that
could work.
20 Ways to Make Money Online
Thanks
to the wonders of the internet, it’s completely possible to bring in a
steady side income from the comfort of your own home. If you want to know how
to make money online, consider these possibilities:
Open an Etsy store. If you have a creative talent or
skill – whether it’s creating art, sewing clothes, or making keepsakes – you
can open an online store on Etsy.com and sell
your wares for some quick cash. With your own Etsy store, you’re left in charge
of pricing and, ultimately, how much you make. See our detailed primer, “How to Make Money on Etsy.”
Complete surveys online. Sites like Swagbucks and MyPoints.com pay
people to share their opinions on products or services, test mobile apps, or
participate in market research. While the payday for these sites is modest,
participating frequently can help you earn extra money in a short amount of
time.
Get paid to search the Web. Zoombucks.com will pay you to use their
online interface to search the web. To qualify, you need to be willing to
download their search bar and use it for everyday Internet use. The only caveat
that comes with this “gig” is that you might be paid in gift cards instead of
cash. If you can parlay those gift cards into items you need to buy anyway –
like groceries or gas – searching online can be a lucrative way to spend your
free time.
Evaluate search engines. Search engine evaluators use
commonly-accessed search engines in order to seek out bugs or errors. You may
not earn a lot, but you can do this job in your spare time and from the comfort
of your own home. To find gigs, check sites like Lionbridge, and Appen Butler Hill.
Start a blog. If you love writing and are
passionate about a specific topic, starting a blog is a great way to launch a
low-cost side business with little money out-of-pocket. All you need to get
started is a domain name, some basic online support, and a head full of ideas
to share. Here’s a basic primer on starting a blog for profit.
Write and publish an eBook. You don’t need a
traditional publisher and financial backing to publish your own book anymore.
In fact, Amazon.com makes it possible for you to publish your own eBook and
sell it independently – with no financial investment on your part. And with
Kindle eBook publishing, your book will appear on Kindle stores worldwide
within 24-48 hours. Just be prepared to market it yourself on social media, your
blog, or elsewhere if you expect to generate sales.
Become a freelance writer or editor. If you have a passion for
storytelling or a background in writing or editing, it’s possible to find
freelance writing or editing work online. To search available job openings,
check out sites like UpWork.com and Problogger.net. You can also check traditional job sites
such as Indeed.com and enter “telecommute” or “anywhere” in
the location field.
Get into affiliate marketing. If you’re active on social media
and have a large following, you could parlay those connections into some fast
cash with a comprehensive affiliate marketing strategy. By becoming an
affiliate marketer, you’ll sell items through your own links tied to sites
like Amazon.com, ClickBank.com, and Commission Junction.
Earn cash back for shopping. Earning cash back on your
purchases is a smart idea, and credit card rewards aren’t
the only good cash-back strategy out there. With a site like ShopAtHome you can earn cash back on purchases made
with approved merchants. Many frequent shoppers also love the Ibotta app, which lets you earn cash-back on every
purchase.
Buy and sell domain names. If you’re good at finding
popular yet undiscovered domain names, you can make some cash on the side by
buying and reselling websites. Think of it as digital real estate
speculation. Domains are available on GoDaddy.com for as
little as $2.99 per year, but are sometimes resold at far higher
prices: According to Business Insider, the site MM.com sold for
$1.2 million dollars in 2014. Once you find the perfect domain name to
resell, you can market it on Flippa.com for a
flat fee.
Make money on YouTube. People who love the
spotlight and have other online hustles should consider creating their own YouTube channel. If you’re interested —
and interesting — you can use the platform to
market affiliate products, sell products you create yourself, or
receive ad revenue for your informal tutorials or entertaining
videos. Once you get the ball rolling, YouTube offers a partner
program that can help you monetize your business further.
Become a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants perform a wide
range of services for their clients, all of which can be completed online.
Depending on the day, they may open and reply to emails, schedule online work
or blog posts, write mock-up letters and proposals, or perform data entry. You
can look for virtual assistant jobs on sites like UpWork.com and Problogger.net.
Work as an online interpreter or
translator. If you’re
fluent in a foreign language, it makes sense to look for work as an online
interpreter or translator. Depending on your individual skillset, you could
find work translating blog posts or eBooks, transcribing recorded lessons or
speeches for clients, or translating through Skype or another online video
service. And, thanks to the increased use of foreign languages in the United
States, getting started could really pay off. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for interpreters and
translators is expected to increase 17% nationally through 2026.
Manage social media for
businesses. If you
have a knack for social media, you could potentially get paid to manage various
platforms for others. Many businesses are too busy running day-to-day
operations to stay on top of their Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts –
and will pay someone with the knowledge and time to do it for them. To find
these jobs, ask local businesses and check sites like UpWork.com and Problogger.net.
Work remotely for a call center. Because many call center jobs are
location independent, finding work in this field is an easy way to earn some
money from home. Dozens of sites list job openings for call-center
representatives, including Freelancer.com and SimplyHired.com.
Meanwhile, you should check local job listings for openings and opportunities
as well.
Rent out your car. If you’re not using your
car on a daily basis, you might consider renting it out for some
easy cash. Sites like , RelayRides.com, and
FlightCar.com let you rent out your car for a daily – or even hourly – rate.
Answer questions. If you’re a subject matter
expert, you can get paid for your expertise. Sites like JustAnswer will pay you to answer questions either on
the phone or online. Just register, enter your area of expertise, and get
started to begin earning money on the side.
Rent out a room on Airbnb. Living near a tourist area has
its perks, including the prospect of renting out a room for a profit. With home
sharing sites like Airbnb, you can rent out a room in your
home – or even the entire place – for a day, a week, or longer. If
you have extra space and might enjoy the company of travelers, renting out
a room is great way to earn some extra money with little effort on your part.
See our post, “How to Make Money as an AirBNB Host.”
Teach English online. A company called VIPKID makes it easier than ever to make money
teaching English to international children online. You do need a bachelor’s
degree and at least one year of teaching experience to get started, but you can
easily make up to $22 per hour working just 7.5 hours per week.
Become a proofreader. All kinds of businesses hire
professional proofreaders to look over their copy and content for errors before
they publish. This side hustle is one that could work for nearly anyone since
you can work from home provided you have a computer and an internet connection.
You can find online proofreading jobs through websites like Indeed.com and
FlexJobs.com
16 Ways to Make Money Fast
If you have some time to spare and want to earn
money quickly, there are plenty of strategies to consider. Here are some quick
money schemes worth researching if you want to earn cash today:
Hold
a yard sale.
If you have a yard or garage and plenty of items to sell, you can have a yard
sale as early as tomorrow. By advertising your sale on local Facebook pages and Craigslist, you can also skip the paid newspaper ad and
keep all of the profits for yourself. If you don’t have time to price
everything, try asking patrons to “make an offer” or grouping similar items on
tables with an advertised price (e.g. everything on this table is $5).
Sell
plasma. After
passing an initial screening, you can usually sell your plasma for
anywhere from $25 to $50 per donation. To qualify, you’ll have to stand in a
long line or show up early, be willing to fill out a very personal
questionnaire, and endure a painful needle prick or two. Still, selling plasma
is a great way to raise money fast – if you can stand the hassle.
Offer
to watch children or pets. If you know anyone who has children or
pets, you could easily begin a side gig as a babysitter or pet sitter. To let
people know you’re interested, send out a group email describing your services,
post an ad on Facebook, or tell friends and acquaintances about your
availability in person or over the phone. You can also create a profile on
a babysitting referral site like Care.com.
Set
up an account on Rover.com. Enjoy furry company once in a while? These
days, many professional pet-sitters set up an account on Rover.com.
With Rover.com, you can reach people in your area who are actively looking
for someone to watch their dogs, cats, hamsters, or turtles, either in their
home or your own. You can set your own rules and schedule and come up with
your own pricing through the Rover.com pet-sitting
platform.
Put
computer skills to use on Fiverr. If you know how to do almost anything
online, you can sell and market your services on Fiverr. While Fiverr’s
$5 minimum service charge means you won’t earn a lot at first, you can add
additional perks and services once you get a steady flow of clients and a few
positive reviews.
Sell
stuff online. If you have high-quality items to sell, there are a slew of
online marketplaces you can use. Just make sure you understand the fees
associated with your sale before you take the plunge. Where neighborhood
Facebook pages and Craigslist ads are free, many online marketplaces or consignment shops charge for ads or require you to
fork over a percentage when you make a sale.
Recycle
scrap metal. Different types of scrap metal can be recycled for cash at
scrap yards around the country. However, how much you’ll make depends a lot on
where you live. Metals commonly traded for cash include aluminum, copper,
brass, and steel.
Rent
out a parking spot. If you live in a busy or congested area and have
parking to spare, you might be able to rent out your parking
space for some quick cash when you’re not using it. Simply
advertise your open parking space online including details on the location,
whether it’s covered or uncovered, and your desired hourly, weekly, or monthly
fee. If you want, you can even use a site like Just Park or download the Spot App to reach more potential
customers.
Get
a roommate. If
you have a spare room in your home or apartment, getting a roommate is one way
to raise money fast. Not only can they help pay the rent, but they can also
help with other bills like utilities, cable, and Internet service.
Set
up a roadside stand. Depending on where you live, you could profit
handsomely by setting up a roadside stand. If you live near a resort area, for
example, you could buy cases of bottled water, put them on ice, and sell them
to passers by for twice what you paid. Selling fruit and produce you grow
yourself is also a smart idea in highly-traveled areas.
Sign
up for TaskRabbit.com. With TaskRabbit, you’ll be
connected to local people who need help with regular chores. Depending on the
day, you could get paid to walk a dog, pick up someone’s dry cleaning, or do
someone’s grocery shopping. Best of all, it’s free to create a profile and get
started.
Sell
old textbooks. If
you just finished college, you might be able to turn your old textbooks into
cold, hard cash. You probably don’t need your old books anyway, and sites like
Amazon.com, BookFinder.com, and Cash4Books.net make
the process easy and painless.
Sell
your college notes. If you paid attention in class and took
excellent notes, you could sell them for a handsome profit. To see if your
notes are in demand, check out Stuvia.
Sell
your old cellphone. If your old cell phone is fairly new and in decent
shape, you could consider selling it for some quick cash online. While selling
it on eBay or Craigslist is always a possibility, you could also try your luck
on technology-specific resale sites like Gazelle.com, Glyde.com, and SellMyCellPhones.com.
Become
a tutor in your spare time. Subject matter experts and recent college
graduates might have no problem tutoring others in their spare time – and
earning money in the process. To find clients, post ads on college message
boards, ask around your inner circle, or try a college tutoring site like Tutor.com.
Sign
up for clinical drug trials. Signing up for clinical drug trials is an
uncommon way for people to earn extra cash, but it still works. With ClinicalTrials.gov, you can explore various clinical trial
opportunities in your area. Just be sure to read the fine print, ask questions,
and understand the risks.
14
Ways to Make Money the Old-Fashioned Way
In addition to all the ways we’ve mentioned so
far, you can also consider making money the old-fashioned way with some extra
hustle. Most of these work options have been around for centuries, but in
some cases, new ways to tap into them have just emerged in the past
decade. Here are 10 ways to earn extra cash the old-fashioned way.
Deliver
for Postmates. Download
the free Postmates app for Android and iOS and come online
whenever you want to make money. Make up to $40/hour by delivering food,
drinks, retail, and more. There are no time commitments or fees, so you will
take home 100% of what you earn each and every time you make a Postmates
delivery.
Drive
for Uber or Lyft. If you have a reliable vehicle, a clean driving
record, and a smartphone, driving for a car-share company is a real
possibility. By working during peak travel times and optimizing your car for
ideal gas mileage, you can make up to $25/hour on your own schedule.
Try
Uber EATS or DoorDash. Uber EATS offers part-time work that’s similar
to driving for Uber or Lyft. Instead of picking up passengers, however, you
will pick up food orders and deliver them in your area. Pay works similarly,
letting you earn a per-job rate plus tips. DoorDash works
similarly, letting consumers order food from restaurants and connecting drivers
to pick up and drop off their meals.
Work
in grocery delivery. Instacart is a company that will pay you to pick up
grocery store orders in your spare time. The entire purchase and order takes
place through the Instacart app, making it easy for you to pick up the
groceries your customers wants and get paid. Like other food delivery jobs on
this list, Instacart lets you earn a per-trip rate plus tips. Shipt is another service that will pay you to shop for
groceries and deliver them to consumers in your area, so make sure to see if
they’re available where you live.
Mow
lawns or plow driveways. If you’re willing to mow yards or shovel
or plow snow in the winter, you could easily start your own snow
removal and lawn mowing business on the side. While you can usually find
work by reaching out to your local community via word-of-mouth, flyers, or
online message boards, the website Plowz & Mowz allows
you to set up an online profile and reach more customers in your area.
Salvage
and resell. Do
you love antiques or have a knack for finding valuables at flea markets or yard
sales? If you do, it might be time to consider salvaging items for resale – or
even scouting out antiques to sell for a profit. While you’ll need to spend
quite a bit of time searching for prospects and spend some money buying
upfront, you could easily turn a profit if you know what you’re doing.
Get
a part-time job. If you’re hard-up for cash, it might be time to consider a
part-time job. Fortunately, retail, restaurant, and manual labor industries are
almost always looking for workers willing to work weekends, evenings, and
holidays.
Find
seasonal work. Depending on the season, local businesses may be looking
for part-time help. This is especially true during fall and winter when retail
stores rely on seasonal workers to get through the busy holiday rush. And
during the summer, temporary work opportunities range from manual labor
outdoors to pool lifeguards and golf caddies.
Monetize
a hobby. While
some hobbies actually cost money, others can be transformed into a profitable
business venture. Ultimately, it depends on what your hobby is and how talented
you are. You could turn your love of photography, for example, into a part-time
gig taking family portraits and wedding photos or selling prints on Etsy
or at arts fairs.
Ask
for a raise. If
you’re unhappy with your compensation at your 9-5 job, asking for a raise is
one way to beef up your bank account. Most employers offer an annual review of
your work – which could be the perfect time to negotiate a higher salary or ask
for better perks. If your employer doesn’t offer such an opportunity, it might
be time to initiate a review yourself.
Ask
for overtime at work. Have a job that offers overtime? Let your boss
know you’re interested in the opportunity. Meanwhile, it might be wise to let
co-workers know you’re willing to pick up any extra shifts they don’t want or
need.
Start
a bed and breakfast. If you live in a popular resort area or
own a historic property, a B&B might be the perfect side hustle. Not
only can you work at home with this career, but you’ll also score some tax
write-offs in the process — although most innkeepers caution that the
profession requires a lot of hard work and is more of an attractive lifestyle
than a money-making pursuit.
Start
a small business.
Have a skill you can monetize? If you know how to mow grass, paint a room, or
bake cakes, starting your own business is a great way to earn quick cash.
Depending on the type of business, you could even do it in your spare time. If
you want to browse for more options, check out 50 Side Businesses You Can
Start On Your Own.
Create
passive income. If
you have money saved, you can utilize this as a nest egg to create passive
income. There are many ways to create passive income, with the easiest being to
open a high interest savings account, which offers a much higher
return than a normal savings account. Investing in stocks can
also provide you with a passive income, but requires up front research and
stringent monitoring of your portfolio.
Making
Money vs. Saving Money: Which Is More Important?
Whether you
want to become your own boss, start a side hustle, or earn extra money on the
side, any of the strategies listed above can help. By finding ways to increase
your income, you can free up more cash to pay down debt,
save for the future, or invest for retirement. Saving money is only half of the
equation. And if you truly want to get ahead, you might want to figure out how
to make money – and hopefully, lots of it.
In the
meantime, it also makes sense to save as much money as humanly possible –
either through responsible spending, cancelling or reducing existing
bills, or creating a budget and spending plan that helps you spend
less than you earn.
The saying, “a penny saved is a penny earned,”
isn’t just a play on words; it’s absolutely true. While there may be an
emotional or intellectual distinction, your pocketbook doesn’t know the
difference. And at the end of the day, all dollars earned or saved spend the
same way.
So, why not do both
Hi everyone, I saw comments from people who had already got their loan from Anderson Loan Finance. Honestly, I thought it was a scam, and then I decided to make a request based on their recommendations. A few days ago, I confirmed in my personal bank account amounting to $15,000 dollars which I applied for. This is really a good news and I am so very happy that I advise all those who need a real loan and who are sure to reimburse to apply through their email (text or call) +1 719 629 0982. There are sincere loan lenders! They are capable to lend you a loan. Contact Mr Anderson E-mail: andersonraymondloanfinance@gmail.com
ReplyDeletePhone: +1 719 629 0982
E-mail: andersonraymondloanfinance@gmail.com
Office address is (68 Fremont Ave Penrose CO, 812400).
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete