Everybody hits a rough patch every once in a while, and knowing how to make money during critical moments is extremely important. Fortunately, the internet offers a lot of opportunities, on top of the regular ones like babysitting or tutoring.
However, the world is continuously changing and it is sometimes difficult to determine which ways to make money still work and which don’t. This guide will help you make money by choosing the jobs that still pay well, in order to get through difficult financial times, or simply to make some money on the side.
This having been said, none of the following ways will help you get right. What they will do is give you the opportunity to make a quick buck without having to invest any kind of money in materials or training. In other words, they are perfect for anyone, regardless of their age or preparation.
Please note that some of them will require you to be in certain locales, while others won’t. Choose the one that best fits your situation. Also, these jobs require dedication in order to earn money from them. You will have to work hard, just like with any type of employment.
If you need to make more money and have the extra time required, there is nothing stopping you from taking one or multiple jobs from this list. Some can go really well together, and can be practically done at the same time, while others don’t require your constant attention, and can give you time to do something else with your day.
Another thing that should be emphasized is the fact that all of these jobs are being used right now by people, in order to make money. They have been tried and tested and deemed reliable. If you choose one of these activities, you WILL see results, provided that you show the same dedication that you would to a normal, day-job.
The secret to making money and being successful
The same psychological ideas and strategies are usually behind both making a quick buck, as well as earning a fortune over the span of one’s lifetime. The big problem is that most people don’t think about how they should think in order to be successful and make money.
As Freud, the father of psychology said, there are three elements to the mind of a human being. Each of these controls your behavior, to some extent, and when they are “trained” properly, they help you live a healthy, successful life.
The three elements are:
- Id – The part that exists in your subconscious since birth, and dictates your instinctive needs and urges. This is the part that usually gets people in trouble;
- Super-ego – The super-ego appears later in life, in order to compensate for the urges of the id. It is usually trained as part of our upbringing, every time our parents impart their knowledge and wisdom to us. This part usually handles restrictions. You can think about it as a guardian angel that acts as a parent, telling you whether or not you should do something, and protecting you from bad decisions;
- Ego – The part that actually makes the decisions, the ego must constantly choose between what the id and super-ego need. In other words, this part has the power to turn things around when the decision-making processes aren’t going too well;
Now, as you would expect, the id wants things fast and wants a lot of them (in this case, money). Unfortunately, these things also appeal to the super-ego, and this can put the ego in a difficult decision. As a result, you can easily be tempted by get-rich-fast schemes.
It is important to understand the fact that instant gratification is never a good thing, even when we’re talking about difficult situations. When you get something when you want it, how you want it, without working for it, your mind starts enforcing the idea that all things should come just as easily. As you can imagine, this can create many problems on both, short-term, as well as on the long term.
The following money making strategies require planning, effort, and patience. Work hard and you will be able to make the money that you need.
- Become an Uber or Lyft driver
Becoming a driver for Uber or Lyft is extremely easy, and it’s a great way to make a quick buck. You basically have to install an app, make an account, and get going. Of course, you need a smartphone and a vehicle. However, there are offers from Uber where they will send you a phone to use.
This having been said, you will need to have a clean driving record, as well as authorization to work wherever you live. Once you have these, you’ll basically be your own boss. You decide when you want to work, and for how long. Also, the two companies offer bonuses for various milestones that you reach, for example having 50 clients in a week.
- Participate in market research projects
There is a large number of companies that are constantly organizing market research projects in order to get the consumers’ opinions on various products that they want to start selling. As a participant, you won’t have to do much. The company will place you in a room, give you time to test a project, and then ask you to tell them your opinion. You will have to write down your opinion, answer polls, or even participate in a group discussion, to be more precise.
It’s easy, you don’t need any kind of experience, and you may even get something out of it. Also, you can participate in these projects whenever you have time.
- Start selling old books on Amazon
A lot of people aren’t aware of the fact that they may have valuable books in their home. Amazon allows people to sell their old books, which is great if you need a couple of hundred dollars and have some books lying around.
If you don’t have any books that you don’t need, you can ask around and see if anyone has books that they want to get rid of. People tend to throw away the books that they no longer need when moving, and this creates a great opportunity for you.
Keep in mind that you should always research the books that you want to sell. You never know when you come across one that’s worth a hundred dollars or more.
- Sell your old electronics on Craigslist
Most of us buy a large number of electronics, with each passing year, and when we buy something better, we just store the old items in a box. These electronics may still have some value. So if you have any kind of tablets, laptops, or phones, you should consider selling them on Craigslist.
If you dislike Craigslist, you can always use a website like Gazelle in order to sell any phones that you no longer need. The company will buy them even if they’re not in the best shape so that they can refurbish them.
While you won’t get nearly as much as what you paid for them in the first place, you may get up to 60-70 percent. Who knows, you may even have a few items that have become collectibles. You will be able to get more for your electronics if they’re properly maintained, and if you have the product’s box, as well as the original charger, and other accessories that it may have come with.
It would also be a good idea to start taking better care of the electronics that you use now, in case you ever want to sell them later on.
- Earn money by doing tasks with TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a great platform that enables you to do various jobs for people who need help in your area. Here you will be able to find both small jobs that pay a few dollars, as well as more difficult tasks like home renovations, which can help you make larger amounts of money.
An alternative to this platform is Amazon Home Services, where you may find jobs that range from small repairs to activities that require more time and effort.
These two are great ways to use any free time that you have, in order to make some money on the side.
- Make money by delivering for PostMates
Another great platform for anyone looking to make some money by doing quick jobs, PostPates gives you the opportunity to earn by delivering items, documents, food, and other things.
You will basically have to deliver things for companies that don’t handle the delivery process themselves. The best thing is that you don’t need a car. If you live in a busy area, you may find jobs that require the delivery of food, or various small things.
PostMates advertises the fact that people can earn up to 25 dollars per hour by doing deliveries, and this is usually without the tips that clients will give you. So if you move around town a lot, why not also do a few deliveries on the way to work, or when you head home.
- Make money by flipping real estate contracts
Most people think that flipping real estate contracts requires a lot of money, however, it is completely in the realm of possibility to get into this business and make money from it without spending too much. The secret is not taking possession of the property. You basically just have to secure a product and then sell it to someone who is interested.
The only investment that you will have to make is the opening of an escrow account. If you don’t know how you’ll find a lot of guides online.
Flipping real estate contracts is far more than a fast way to make money. While you can make a quick buck when you need to, you can also transform this business into something that will make you money in the long term.
- Earn by selling on Etsy and CafePress
If you have the imagination and creativity required to design digital items, then you can use platforms like Etsy and CafePress in order to sell your products. You don’t need anything other than a piece of software that will enable you to design the items, and a laptop or computer, and an internet connection.
As for the types of items that you can design, the platforms mentioned above will let you sell logos, various images with inspirational sayings, banners, and many more. After you design a couple of products, you will be able to print or manufacture them and deliver them on-demand. Also, if this seems like too much work for you, there is always the option of hiring a designer. However, you will still have to come up with the ideas for the products.
- Earn money by answering questions on JustAnswer
JustAnswer is a great platform that enables people to earn money by answering specialized questions. You will find a large number of doctors, engineers, professors, and lawyers that are constantly looking for questions that need answers. The platform basically gives you a chance to monetize your knowledge and expertise, and also help people in the process.
Once you join the website, you will be able to earn anywhere from a few dollars for answering a simple question, to $50-60 for a more difficult, in-depth answer.
- Make money by doing various tasks on Fiverr
Fiverr is a website where you can make money by offering virtually any type of service that you can think of. If you have any experience in graphic design, web design, audio and video content creation, or writing, then this is a great place to make money.
The platform was initially built around the idea that all services would cost a fixed amount ($5) but has moved beyond its initial format and now allows people to price their services however they see fit.
- Walk the neighbors’ dogs
A great way to make some money on the side is to ask around the neighborhood and see if anyone is willing to pay you to walk their dogs. Most people are too busy to do it themselves and are willing to pay a few dollars for someone else to handle this chore. The great thing is that you can walk multiple dogs at the same time. For example, if you get paid $10 to walk a dog, you can collect three or four pets and quadruple the amount of money that you make.
Also, if your neighbors don’t have dogs, or do not require your services, then you can go on a network like Rover, and see if there is anyone near you who needs help. In addition to Rover, you can also use your social media accounts to let people know about your services.
Keep in mind that you should ask for reviews from each of your clients. Trust is important in this business, and you will need to prove that you are serious and that you take good care of the pets that are entrusted to you.
- Use Care.com to find babysitting gigs
Babysitting is always a great way to make a few extra bucks, and anyone can do it. Furthermore, there is a large number of parents who are constantly looking for people to take care of their children why they’re at work or go out of town.
This having been said, while your neighbors will probably trust you, other people might not, so joining a website like Care.com is required in order to find work. The platform does background checks on all those who join in order to work as babysitters, and then helps parents find someone suited to their needs.
While the job itself can pay fairly well, babysitting also comes with a great advantage: you will be able to do something else while taking care of the children.
For example, you can work as a freelancer while also keeping an eye on the children. This way you can make money by babysitting, and also by working as a freelancer, at the same time.
- Get into photography and sell on Shutterstock and iStockPhoto
If you’ve got a decent camera, then you can start taking photos of pretty much anything that draws your attention, and then try to sell them on platforms like Shutterstock. While you won’t be making a large amount of money, photography at this level is a great way to generate a passive income.
Alternatively, you can look for people who need photographers to cover various events such as weddings, engagements, birthdays, corporate events, etc.
- Become a personal trainer
If you have some experience in terms of fitness exercises, then you could become a personal trainer. This would enable you to make quite a bit of money, and your primary task would be to simply keep your clients motivated and to guide them towards their goals.
If you want to increase the chance of being hired as a personal trainer, you should also try to learn as much as possible about nutrition, and ways to help people plan their meals.
Once you feel that you’re prepared for the job, you can go to your local gym, and enquire if there is anyone looking for a personal trainer. However, you should keep in mind that you may be required to have some form of certification. Alternatively, you can sing up to FitnessTrainer and advertise your services there.
- Work as a tutor
If you have a particularly good understanding of a certain subject, such as math or computer science, then you should consider working as a tutor. You will always be able to find parents who are looking for people to prepare their children for tests, or to tutor them on a regular basis.
Also, you will be able to advertise your services on Indeed.com, in order to find students who need tutoring in your area.
- Make money by advertising for companies with a car wrap
If you have a car, then you can make money by turning it into a roaming banner. You will basically be paid to drive your car around town so that as many people as possible will be able to see it. However, this means that you will have to own a somewhat new vehicle, and also need a clean driving record.
This having been said, you need to drive your car quite a bit in order to actually make a profit from this type of side hustle.
- Work as a gardener
You can always work as a local gardener, regardless of how much or how little experience you have. Most of the information you will need in order to take care of various plants can be found online, however, you will usually only be required to mow the lawn and pull weeds. Start by asking your neighbors, and if they turn you down, then advertise your services on social media networks.
- Work as a housecleaner
Amazon Home Services is a great platform where you can advertise your housecleaning services, in addition to any social media accounts that you may have.
Working as a housecleaner can bring you somewhere around $20 per hour, and you will only be required to actually do the job a few days per week, as most clients will only want you to stop by every 3 or 4 days.
- Earn money as a home organizer
As people start focusing on their career more and more, they stop having the time needed to keep their home in order. As a result, they will look for a home organizer who will make sure that everything has a place, and that every bit of space is properly used.
Some clients will only call you once, in order to organize their belongings, while others who tend to accumulate a lot of things in a short period of time, may need your services every couple of weeks.
- Wash carpets
There are a lot of companies that wash carpets, however, people usually avoid them due to the fact that they charge a large amount of money. This means that you have the opportunity to make money by washing carpets. You simply need to rent a carpet cleaning machine, and then to advertise your services.
You can wash the carpets at your home, or at your owner’s homes. Most of the times, people will love the idea of having their carpets cleaned on site.
- Donate blood
You can make money by donating blood, provided that you are healthy. The exact amount of money is usually determined by the quantity and the blood type; the rarer the blood type, the more money you will make.
By donating blood you will basically be paid to help people, as blood banks are constantly in need of more blood.
Also, you can donate plasma, however, you will have to pay attention to the minimum requirements imposed on donors.
- Get paid to decorate people’s homes for the holidays
Again, some people no longer have the time needed to get their homes organized, or ready for the holiday season. As a result, they are willing to pay others in order to decorate their homes.
Your job will be to put up lights on the interior and exterior of the house, decorate trees, and set up the overall festive décor.
- Participate in medical studies
Medical companies are constantly looking for people willing to test their products, in return for a lot of cash. Depending on the trial, companies may be looking to test the effectiveness of a particular treatment, or they may try to discover any side-effects that their products may have.
- Rent one of your home’s rooms on Airbnb
Airbnb is a great platform that you can use in order to rent any spare rooms that you may have. Those who live in tourist destinations will make more money, but anyone can earn by renting on this platform. If you live in an apartment building, you should first make sure that your neighbors don’t mind the extra activity, but if they’re alright with it, there is nothing stopping you from monetizing your spare rooms.
- Make money on Mechanical Turk
Mechanical Turk is a great platform owned by Amazon that enables people to earn money by doing small tasks. Most of the jobs available are only worth a few bucks at most, so you shouldn’t look at it as a main source of income.
However, it is a good place to make money without the need for any kind of qualification. You will basically have to click on links, participate in polls, or take surveys.
- Sell your vintage clothes
If you have any vintage clothes, you can sell them to a thrift shop. Doing so will not only bring you a bit of money but also help you get rid of all the clothes that you no longer wear.
As a rule of thumb, maternity clothes and children’s clothes sell for the most money.
- Start a cash-bonus checking account
You can go to your local bank and inquire if they are giving away cash bonuses for opening up accounts with them. Some banks make a habit out of running this type of promotion, and you can take advantage of it if you are careful.
Now, please keep in mind that you won’t get a lot of money. Most of the time, these bonuses barely reach $100, however, even this amount can be invaluable when every bit counts. Also, pay attention to the rules of the promotion; you may be required to deposit a certain amount of money before getting the bonus.
- Take out a micro-loan using Fundera
Both Fundera and Prosper are great platforms that you can use in order to get very small business loans. The exact amount will depend on your credit and your employment situation, but if you’ve got these things covered, then you will be able to get a couple thousand dollars using this method.
While you will have to pay the money back, this is a great option to have when you’re in a difficult situation and need money fast.
- Hold webinars
More and more people have started to conduct webinars in order to make some extra cash. Some have even managed to turn this activity into their main source of income.
If you have experience in a certain field that you know others are interested in, then you can organize a webinar and charge people in order to teach them.
Platforms such as GoToWebinar or Webinar Jam will help you get started, but you will have to come up with something that you can actually sell; you have to get people interested, in order to make money.
While you can make money from webinars without one, owning a website will increase your sales. You won’t need to pay for one. Creating a blog on a free platform like WordPress will usually be enough, as you will use it in order to let people know why your webinar is important and communicate with anyone interested.
- Pawn or sell items that you don’t need
If nothing else seems to work, you can always pawn your more valuable items. However, you should always do thins only if you know that you will be able to get the items back (which also implies paying the interest).
Alternatively, you can just look around the house and sell anything that you no longer need. This includes old laptops, phones, and tablets. You can get a bit of money by selling an old smartphone or tablet, and the amount will increase if the items are in good shape and you still have their original accessories.
Smaller, less valuable items can be sold by organizing a garage sale or on Craigslist.