Want to make money, but you’re not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
And you are not alone. According to the Economic Well-Being of American Households in 2021, about 16% of adults performed a side gig to help earn extra money in the past month, and of those, 64% worked fewer than 20 hours during that period. spent time The report was released in May 2022 by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
NerdWallet earns at home, online, or out and about 25 real ways. For each possible side job, we list details such as what it takes to get started, age requirements, and how quickly you can get paid. While most people want to make a quick buck, don’t discount “slow” gigs, as they can pay more in the long run.
Sell old books and games on Amazon
Amazon makes it easy to list and sell vintage books, games, and gadgets on its marketplace. If you have expensive college textbooks, you can earn more than just a few bucks. Make sure the books are in good condition. You will get negative reviews if you try to sell books that are broken or games that are scratched. Remember, be upfront about any flaws, no matter how small they are and no matter how easily people can notice them.
It’s also important to note that in addition to selling on Amazon, you can earn passive income as an Amazon Associate through Amazon’s affiliate marketing network.
For those who may be unfamiliar, affiliate marketing is an advertising model that allows a company to sell its products through third parties or affiliates, who market the products for a commission.
Become a Virtual Assistant
As online businesses grow, so do their needs for additional support. One trick to making money online is offering them your skills. Tasks may include uploading photos to e-commerce sites, scheduling appointments, or making phone calls. In most cases, these jobs pay $7–$40 an hour, depending on your skill level.
Time: Medium
Earnings: $7–$40 an hour
Pick up freelance work online
Make money online through websites like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. These sites offer opportunities for a variety of freelance jobs, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and virtual assistants. Fluent in another language? Check out sites like Gengo or Blend Express, or build a business with your own site. No matter what type of freelancing you do, keep an eye on the going rate for the type of work you provide so you know if you’re charging too much or too little. are Learn how to get started with Upwork.
Total time: It can take a while to get your first gig.
Setup: 24 hours.
How easy to start: Easy, if you have the expertise.
How fast you’ll get paid: Varies by the site.
Sell, or resell, used tech on Craigslist
The market for used electronics is vast, and an easy way to make some extra money online. You can use Craigslist to part with your old iPhone or your MacBook. You can get a premium for these types of electronics. Some people even turn around by buying and reselling items.
You can also use a website like Gazelle to sell your used phones, no matter what you have. Such companies have built an entire business model out of buying used phones and refurbishing them. Either way, if you have these items lying around your house you can expect to make money relatively quickly.
Earn Money Off Your Reviews
In an increasingly digital world, reviews play a vital role in a brand’s success. To improve the business, they often ask customers for feedback in exchange for cash. You can find companies that will pay you to try their product or service, or review purchases you’ve already made in exchange for a discount. For example, Fabletics will give you extra bonus points, allowing you to earn paid credit for every review you make online.
Time: Low
Earnings: $5–$30 an hour
Take surveys for money
You can make money from home doing online surveys, but don’t expect to be rolling in the dough. Survey sites usually don’t offer a large payout, and many sites are more useful for getting gift cards than cash. Some of the more popular survey sites include Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. Read our analysis of survey sites to find out which one is best for you.
Tot timale: It will take a while.
Setup: Just minutes.
How easy to start: Very Just register and begin.
Age threshold: 13 to 18+.
How fast you’ll get paid: Varies by the site.
Deliver for PostMates
You can make some money when you’re in a pinch by using PostMates, and you don’t even need a car, just a bike for deliveries in busier cities and downtown. I’ve often used it to get food from specialty places that don’t deliver themselves, but it can be used for many things.
Postmates states on their website that you can earn up to $25/hour delivering. You can even earn some tips in the process so it’s a great option for those who want something to do in their spare time, like the big ride-sharing apps that are hogging mobile app stores everywhere.
Sell Household Items on eBay or Amazon
Selling unused items around the house is one of the surest ways to make money at home. For example, you may have a sofa or an organization box that you no longer use — sell them! Start by creating an account, take photos of your items for sale, and post them on eBay or Amazon. List each item at a price that works best for you.
Time: Low to high
Earning: Pay varies by item
Extra: Camera or phone
Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel
Turn your cat videos into cash videos. If your YouTube videos or blog posts attract a large audience, you may be able to make money from advertising. YouTube sets 1,000 subscribers as the benchmark creators must build before applying for the YouTube Partners program. YouTube partners then get access to Google Adsense, a service businesses pay to advertise your content. The service is free, but there are requirements you must meet. Read more about how to make money on YouTube and Google AdSense.
Total time: It can take several weeks to get up and running.
Setup: Not that hard.
How easy to start: Depends on how good you are at producing interesting videos.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you’ll get paid: Could take a long while to earn the first payout; then monthly.
Flip real estate contracts
If you’re thinking that side hustle is cost-prohibitive, it’s not. You can flip real estate deals at your leisure without occupying the property. It’s not a high-end fix-it effort, just getting a contract and selling it to any interested party. that’s it.
You can do this with just a few hundred dollars in most cases to open escrow. There are companies dedicated to teaching how to do this, like REWW. It’s good for making a little extra money but also potentially a bit more long-term.
Last words
As you can see, there are many ways to make money at home. Whether you’re looking to start a side gig or a full-time job, doing it from your couch is a great option. Imagine being able to travel the world as you please, or enjoy your morning coffee in your PJs while making money from home. Who knows, you might uncover a new passion or pay off your credit card debt. To learn how to budget those earnings, download our app and explore Mint’s salary tool to see what you can expect to earn.