Whether you earn a decent paycheck or not, it’s important to know how to make extra money on the side to either increase your savings rate, pay down debt or build up your emergency fund.
The average American earns $56,516. Most people want to know real ways to make money from home so they can take that vacation they’ve been saving for and spend money without any worries. In troubled times it’s even more important to get out of debt and save as much money as possible.
In this article, we’ll tell you how to make extra income while working full-time by highlighting some creative ways to make money.
Let’s get started:
All big and small companies look for product testers who want to know how to make more money.
As a product tester, your job will be to test new products including digital goods.
Join a platform like Toluna, Alba Science, and User Testing to start today. Some platforms can be hard to break into. Pick one that offers products that are relevant to your experience. Also, remember that you may have to provide written or video reviews to share your feedback after you’ve tested a product.
You will make money online only if you meet all the required conditions.
You can make $1,000 per month by testing products. While it’s a great way to make money online, remember that not all companies offer money for testing products and some will only give you free samples to try and keep. However, since some samples can be very expensive and rare, this can be a good choice if you want to make money fast.
No, but you must have relevant background or education, i.e: you are more likely to get selected to test beauty products if you are into fashion. Most websites will require you to create a profile that’ll be used to gauge your skills and find if you’re suitable to test a specific product.
Product testers make about $11 per hour. You will have to work about 90 hours to make $1,000 online.
If you are looking for creative ideas to earn extra money then try this one.
Platforms like Teach Away, VIPKID, and DaDa are on a lookout for teachers to teach English to Chinese students. However, if you look around you can also find opportunities to teach other languages including Spanish, Hindi, and Chinese.
This ‘make money from home’ idea can be suitable for individuals who are patient as you may have to work with young children.
You can make $25 per hour by working as an online teacher depending on your platform and skillset.
Most platforms require a bachelor’s degree to become an English teacher. Moreover, they typically only entertain native speakers. In most cases, you will be required to pass a test to work as a language teacher and make money.
You will have to work about 40 hours to make $1,000 per month as an English teacher. The good thing is that you will get to choose your own schedule.
This is one of the easiest ways to make money online but it’s not for those looking for creative ways to make money as filling surveys can get redundant.
It’s quite like working as a product tester but you will not really get to test products as filling surveys online requires sharing your experience and feedback on general things such as living in a country, working at an office, etc.
Some of the best survey sites include Inbox Dollars, Swagbucks, and Survey Junkie.
Each survey pays between $1 and $20 depending on factors such as the platform you’ve selected, the length of the survey, and the niche.
No, there are no such requirements, however, surveys are granted based on customer profiles, i.e: education, gender, location, etc.
You cannot make $1,000 per month completing surveys as the average hourly rate is only $3 per hour. Some experienced users earn up to $10 per hour completing surveys but it’s rare. This option is suitable for those who want to earn quick money online.
If you enjoy writing then consider working as a freelance writer and make money online.
As a writer, you will get to write a variety of articles, eBooks, essays, poems, fiction, and even news pieces.
This can be a great option for those who enjoy sitting in front of a computer and sharing their thoughts.
Platforms like Fiverr and UpWork have a lot of jobs for freelance writers. You will have to write kickass proposals to get a job. Remember that most jobs on these platforms are for ghostwriters, i.e: you may not get credited for your work.
In addition to this, you can also try selling your content to a variety of sites. They pay anywhere between $50 to $100 per article.
Writers make anywhere between $15 per hour to $40 per hour based on skills, experience, and education. Native speakers tend to make more money. Make sure to create an impressive profile so you can get paid more.
While a college degree is not required to join a freelancing platform, most clients look for writers with relevant education and experience, i.e: if you are applying to write for a business blog then you should ideally have a degree in business.
Depends on how many words you can write per hour and what you charge for your work. Some writers charge a fixed rate while some opt for hourly payments. Nonetheless, expect to devote about 40 hours to writing to make $1,000 per month.
Platforms like UberEats and Amazon are looking for delivery drivers. Such jobs are suitable for users who want to work a few hours a week and make decent money.
While UberEats is for those who own a bike or car, Amazon Flex looks for individuals who own large vehicles such as SUVs and trucks. Amazon Flex pays more, but it can be difficult to work for the company as it requires having to handle bigger and often heavier parcels.
Some other options to start include Postmates and DoorDash. These platforms do not pay well but are easy to sign up for. They offer flexible schedules and may allow users to collect tips.
Drivers can expect to make about $7 – $25 per hour after factoring in fuel and vehicle maintenance expenses.
No, you do not need a college degree to deliver goods. You must, however, own a vehicle and a valid driving license to apply for a job.
Expect to spend about 50 hours per week delivering goods to make $1,000 per month.
Affiliate marketing needs no introduction. The industry is expected to hit the $8 billion mark by 2022 making it one of the fastest growing industries out there.
Over 80% of businesses today have affiliate programs. You can find reliable individual programs or join an affiliate network like Clickbank, ShareASale, and Rakuten.
While it’s a great industry, the fact remains that it is very difficult to break into. Competition is tough due to a huge number of affiliates and it can take new marketers months to turn a profit.
You may lose money in the beginning as you will have to spend on getting a website, marketing, and other such elements. It usually takes marketers about six to nine months to make a profit unless they have an existing audience.
Most new marketers make about $500 for the first year, this can go to $3,000 after the first two years. Some top marketers make about $50,000 per month after years in the business.
The best part about affiliate marketing is that it does not come with prerequisites. Anyone can be a marketer, however, most platforms require applicants to have a work history, i.e: a specific number of visitors or followers to get their profile approved.
Affiliates who make $3,000 or more per month usually spend about 40 hours per week managing the business. There are several aspects of affiliate marketing that have to be taken care of including content creation, product selection, etc.
The good thing is that you can outsource all these departments, i.e: hire an SEO firm, look for a content writing agency, etc. Still, expect to spend about 8 hours per week on managing everything.
If you understand online marketing and have a flair for writing then waste no time and get on the internet.
You can start your own blog for as little as $100. Spend on hosting, domain, and marketing, and you’re good to go. You can market yourself and create your own content to save money.
This is the best option if you want to learn how to make extra money on the side while having fun. A blog gives you unlimited opportunities. We suggest that you create a blog about something that you are truly interested in.
It can be anything, a travel blog, a technological blog, a fitness blog, etc.
Bloggers make money in a lot of ways. You can join a platform like Adwords and make money based on the number of views or impressions you get. Websites that get 100,000 visitors make about $500 per month, however, this depends on a number of factors including the quality of your audience.
Other options include affiliate marketing, having a subscription based system, and charging your clients for content. If you offer something good to your visitors they’d happily pay you.
Readers want to go to a blog that appears authentic. They pay attention to a lot of factors including the person behind the computer screen.
If you have a blog dedicated to law then they’d expect you to be a lawyer and have years of experience. Similarly, if you are starting a diet and fitness blog then you should have a degree in nutrition and health sciences.
However, there are some fields that do not require a college degree. You can, for example, dedicate a blog to travel and food and share your opinion on the restaurants in your city.
You will make no money in the beginning. It can take months to build an audience and get approved for monetization. You’ll begin to make about $500 per month after about a year in business if you continue to create kickass content.
It takes most bloggers about two years of work to make $1,000 per month. Most successful bloggers say that it’s a full-time job and you must devote 40 hours per week to make money through blogging unless you can afford to join hands with a marketing partner to take care of your business.
Wondering ‘how do I make an extra $1000 a month?’ Well, worry not because the answer lies in influencer marketing, a field that’s said to be worth $2 billion and is growing at a rate of 10%.
Influencers are people who have power over others, i.e: they can influence decisions. Businesses are on a lookout for influencers who can help them reach a wider audience and make more sales.
As an influencer, you’d be creating content in the form of written blogs, videos, photos for your clients who will pay you for each post. You must have a decent number of followers to become an influencer.
Join a platform like Afluencer to find brands or get in touch with companies and apply for a position.
Influencers with fewer than 100,000 followers make about $50 per post. Influencers with more than 1 million followers can make up to $250,000 per post.
Some top influencers including Dwayne Johnson and Kim Kardashian make up to $1 million per post. However, it can take years to build such a following.
No, you do not need a college degree to be an influencer but you must have experience and skills to be a successful influencer.
Your main job will be to make regular posts and gain a following. Once you’ve generated buzz, you can work about 2 hours per day to stay in touch with your followers and keep engagement levels high.
If you want to know how to make extra income while working full-time then here’s your answer. Photographers and artists can sell pictures and paintings online.
Shutterstock and other such platforms are willing to pay good money for photos. They must, however, be very nicely clicked.
There’s a high demand for all kinds of photos including wildlife photography, nature photography, and general images.
You can either sell your picture and receive a huge amount – as high as $1,000 – or receive royalties – up to 20$ – on each sale.
No, but you must have a DSLR or high quality camera as businesses only want to pay for professional photos. Moreover, you might have to edit photos before they can get sold.
This is the best option for people who want to make money from home with a full-time job as it requires little to no time. Collect all your photos, upload them on the site, and you will get paid your commission whenever you reach the minimum threshold.
Expect to spend only two to four hours per month on this. However, getting the right shot and mastering photography can take a while.
If you have things lying around that are of no use to you then prepare for a garage sale. This can be a great option if you are looking for how to make money online for beginners because it requires no experience.
All you have to do is gather all the things, think of a price, and make some preparations.
You can make a lot of money depending on what you’re selling and in what condition the goods are.
No degree or experience is required for a garage sale to make money.
Expect to spend two days on it. If you are a busy person in need of money then this can be a great option for you.
If you are looking for an answer to how to make extra income while working full-time then consider investing your money. You will receive a fixed monthly return on your investment without any worries.
These are several options to choose from. You can put your money in a savings account, invest in a real estate fund, or buy bonds. Some options offer monthly returns and some offer yearly profits.
Remember that you may have to pay heavy taxes on the profit and that withdrawing money before the agreed upon period can result in penalties.
Depends on where you have invested money.
Banks offer variable interest rates between 8% and 12%.
Real estate funds offer up to 15% yearly returns and brokerage houses can offer a profit of 20% but it’s a risky proposition.
If you are going to handle everything on your own then it’s best that you have a degree in money management or finance, however, it’s not a prerequisite as no bank or institution will decline your request if you do not have a college degree.
Expect to spend two to four hours per month if you have a manager handling your portfolio. It can take longer if you’ve taken the matter in your own hands as you may have to look at the changing market conditions and take decisions accordingly.
If you are looking for fun and creative ways to make money then sign up to be a driver for a ridesharing company like Uber and Lyft. According to reports, both the businesses are on a lookout for drivers due to a sudden shortage of skilled professionals.
They’re known to be very good businesses to work with and offer a bunch of great opportunities.
This is not the same as working for UberEats or delivery networks as you will not be delivering goods. You will be working as a driver for passengers.
While it is a fun job, it can end up being very tiring as you may have to drive long distances. On the positive side, Uber and other similar platforms offer flexible schedules and the ease to work as a part-time driver to make money.
Uber and other companies pay about $25 per hour, however, the amount includes commissions and other charges. After paying all maintenance and other expenses, Uber and Lyft drivers make between $8.55 and $11.77 per hour.
This is not much but drivers can make more if they have a luxurious vehicle. Uber is known to offer higher rates to drivers with a good record and a nice car.
No, you do not need a college degree to become an Uber driver, but you must have a vehicle in your name, a valid driver’s license, and an impressive driving record to get approved.
You will have to spend about 200 hours per month to make $3,000 driving for Uber.
If you want to make quick money in one day then consider joining a platform like Udemy. It allows experts to create and upload courses that can be bought by learners.
You can post courses in a variety of niches including business, design, software, and languages. Udemy does not charge a fee to be a premium instructor and there are no transactional charges. The platform, however, does charge a commission in the range of 3 to 5 percent.
In addition to learning platforms, you can also offer your services through your own site.
Moreover, you can also choose to be a consultant and provide advice on career, relationship, law, etc.
You can make a lot of money working for Udemy based on the number of enrollments. The platform pays about $10 per enrollment. The more students you get, the more money you can make.
Other than this, you can offer online consultations and make money by charging a fixed hourly rate for your services.
Yes, you must have a college degree and relevant experience to be successful as an online teacher or consultant. No one’s going to hire you if they do not look at you as a legitimate source of information.
Udemy does not require instructors to offer live lectures. Your job will be to create lectures in the form of written material and videos. This can take up to 40 hours depending on your speed and other such factors. However, some platforms require instructors to offer live sessions and pay an hourly rate – between $15 to $25 per hour.
It is easy to make extra money from home legitimately. All you have to do is join a freelancing platform and offer your services.
We already talked about working as a freelancer earlier but this deserves its own heading as freelancing is a growing field and there are several niches you can work in including website development, software development, graphics, legal consultation, etc.
Even doctors are now offering online services as telemedicine has become a reliable industry. It is best to offer the services that you have experience in,
Freelancers make between $2,000 to $10,000 per month working from home.
You must have a college degree or relevant certificates to work as a freelancer. Most businesses work with remote workers who have years of experience in the field.
Depends on your hourly rate. Some freelancers charge $10 per hour and some charge up to $100 per hour depending on their experience, niche, and skillset. You can work 40 hours a week or only devote 10 hours per month to freelancing based on your schedule.
If you are looking for ways to make money as a teenager then consider working for families looking for workers to take care of their babies and pets.
This is a growing field in the US since most people are busy taking care of work and other duties. They do not have enough time to take care of their children or pets, hence they have to look for help.
Platforms like Rover and Care can be good options to get started.
These jobs pay between $12 to $40 per hour. You can earn about $15 per hour for walking one dog. You can take out several dogs at once and multiply your earnings.
Babysitting can earn you a lot based on the number of kids you’re taking care of.
There are many jobs for teenagers and most do not require a college degree since teens are not supposed to have one. However, most people will not hire you as a babysitter or pet carer if you have no experience performing such jobs.
Having your own pet or taking care of your siblings does count as experience.
As mentioned earlier, teens can make up to $60 per hour by being smart and choosing the right job. You can make $1,000 by working just 20 hours a month.
If you’re wondering how to make extra income while working full-time then consider this option. You can rent out your room, parking space, and basement. Some people also make money by putting their backyard up for rent.
Even businesses have started to rent out rooms and conference halls to other businesses in need. Freelancers and startups are often on a lookout for furnished rooms to hold events and meetings.
The demand for space is very high in congested cities where homes are small. You can join a platform like Airbnb, JustPark, and RenttheBackyard to get started.
Passive income is one of the best ways to earn some extra cash. This can be done in many ways such as investing in the stock market, running a successful blog, or getting creative and renting out your empty garage space using Neighbor.
You can make a lot of money by renting out your space depending on what you’re renting, for how many hours you’re renting it, and what kind of amenities you offer.
Hosts on Airbnb, for example, make as little as $200 and as high as $20,000 per month.
Other than this, you can make between $10 and $20 per hour for putting your parking space, basement, or backyard up for rent.
No, you only need the property under your name to be able to do so.
The best thing about this option is that you can make money without doing anything. This is why it is the best choice for those looking to make extra income while working full-time. You will only have to spend a few hours per month on maintenance to ensure everything’s in place.
These were some of the best options to make money. However, if this isn’t enough then keep reading because we have covered some more ideas to earn money.
Want to know how to make extra money on the side without doing anything? Continue reading this ‘creative ways to make money’ piece:
#17 Want to know how to earn money from home? Be a day trader and test your luck. It’s very risky and you may end up losing a large portion of your income so be careful. Platforms like Zulutrade can help you trade. Make sure to join a reliable website like Markets.com.
#18 You will never make money if you do not ask for it, hence consider requesting a raise. This is the best way to make more money without working more. Most companies offer raises once or twice a month but if you feel you’re being underpaid then you can request them to reconsider.
#19 Use your vehicle to make money by advertising on it. Businesses pay up to $1,000 per month for such services.
#20 Take on a part-time job to make money. You can work at a grocery store, nearby restaurant, or institution to earn extra money while keeping your full-time job. It can be hard to manage two jobs, which is why only about 5% of workers today hold multiple jobs, but it can be an effective way to make money.
This is all that you need to know about making money online. While it’s important to earn more, remember that it will not be enough unless you learn to control your expenses.
Consider drawing up a tight budget and reducing your expenses to achieve financial independence. You can also negotiate your bills to save money and make $1,000 per month on the side.
The guide to getting out of debt
Investment advice from Warren Buffett
Hey hey. I'm Trajan. I'm a minimalist entrepreneur who loves exploring the world (42 countries), learning new things (7 languages) and trying to get better every day (working on my backsquat).
I write about entrepreneurship and building an optimized and happy life through systems, good habits and scientific research.
Join me and we'll discover how we can build businesses we can be proud of.