Weve all dreamed ofmaking a lot of money, right?
Buy a house, support your family, cushion your retirement savings, splurge here and there… Good news, though: There are other ways to make a lot of money.
Need Some Quick Cash?
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If youre looking to boost your income this month, weve got just the thing for you.
Weve also talked with hundreds of people whove found creative ways to cushion their bank accounts.
Nor will you find online surveys or customer service opportunities.
(Those can be great, but theyre not the best way to makea tonof money.)
Instead, here are our favorite flexible ways to make extra money:
1.
List Your Spare Bedroom (or Backyard Tent) for Rent
Have a spare room?
Might as well make a run at earn some money by listing it on Airbnb.
A few simple steps can make the difference between a great experience and a less-than-satisfactory one.
We talked toTerence Michael, an Airbnb superhostbased in Los Angeles.
Here are some of his tips:
How much can you make?
How much you make listing your space on Airbnb will vary.
(Hosting laws vary from city to city.
just understand the rules and regulations applicable to your city and listing.)
Become a NASA Research Participant
Did you know NASA pays volunteers to participate in bed rest studies?
Youll have to bathe, dress, exercise and eat all from bed.
Want more information on sleep studies?
Jillian Shea, who made $12,000 while sleeping,answers all the important questions.
But we found a game that will actuallypayyou to do it.
The top three players win a prize.
you’ve got the option to play casually for gems or compete for real money prize pools.
Up to $107 per win.
Just download Solitaire Smash to getstart playing and see how much money it’s possible for you to win.
Check out our full list ofgames that pay real money.
Build a Freelance Business
Have you thought about freelancing in your free time?
Perks include setting your own schedule, hand-picking your clients and dictating your rates.
She quit her 9-to-5 and started freelancing full time.
She shared hertips on becoming a freelancer.
you’re free to potentially earn 12% on whatever you invest with Moby.
And a subscription to their plain-language insights and recommendations only costs about $8 a month.
No need to start hosting demonstrations in front of a ton of people.
Instead, create an online course.
There, you could create an online course, filled with guides and how-to tutorials.
Then, share it.
On a platform like Udemy, you set the price for your course.
Penny Hoarder contributor Nick Loper had heard stories about folks making millions of dollars selling online courses.
But what if you cant afford to own a home?
Or maybe youre just not crazy about being a landlord.
Luckily, a company calledArrived Homeslets you earn passive income from rental properties even if you dont own property.
The more you invest, the more you could potentially earn.
Just choose the property youre interested in and make your investment.
Arrived Homes handles the rest.
No dealing with maintenance requests.
Then, youll get paid your share of the rental checks every three months.
Need a Hand With Bills?
Listen, we know its tough out there.
But theres no shame in asking for help.
These companiesmake it easy to help yourself and your bank account.
Become a Virtual Tutor
Are you interested in becoming a tutor?
You dont have to schlep into a classroom or even have formal teaching experience thanks to online tutoring programs.
That will depend on your skills and how much time you have to dedicate.
Youll create an account, get the training you need, then set your own schedule.
Sell Items Through Amazon (Without Stashing Inventory)
Have you heard of Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)?
The selling program allows you to make money by peddling products through Amazon without having to store inventory.
You just get products to sell and ship them over to Amazon, where itll hold them.
Then, once an item is purchased, Amazon handles everything, from shipping to returns.
Of course, Amazon takes a cut of your income and charges you fees.
Still, this was an extra $15,000 from what he calls a very part-time gig.
Sell T-Shirt Designs
Merch by Amazon allows you to design T-shirts without actually getting them printed.
Just upload your design and set your price.
When folks buy your T-shirt, Amazon handles the printing and shipping.
you might help connect them bydelivering food through Doordash.
All it’s crucial that you get started is an insured vehicle or a bicycle and a smartphone.
Youll earn a $6 fee for each delivery, plus keep 100% of your tips.
Depending on the day, you could earn up to $25 an hour.
If you drive full time, thats $1,000 a week!
They could take about two-and-a-half deliveries an hour, and users would tip between 10% and 15%.
Complete Virtual Tasks for Others
You might have heard of Fiverr.
Its an online freelance platform that can help you get your side business off the ground.
Whatever your skills (writer, designer, programmer, recruiter, etc.
), create a seller account on the site.
Use your profile to highlight your degree, credentials and work experience.
Then, youll create a gig to advertise your services and attract buyers.
Each gig starts at $5 (hence the sites name), but your earnings are limitless.
Take Charmaine Pocek, for example.
Shed spent 15 years as a corporate recruiter and started advertising her resume-writing services through the platform.
In about eight years, shemade more than $2.4 million through Fiverr.
Not bad for something that started as a simple side gig!
Sell Your Plasma
If youre not afraid of needles, you could consider selling your plasma.
Its a way to get paid, and it also helps others in need.
The process takes about two hours, but its relatively simple.
Youre free to read or watch TV while a machine draws your blood and separates the plasma.
That means you could make $240 a month just for hanging out and helping others!
Or thrifting for the best deals?
Or perusing Caigslists freebies listings?
You could turn your hobby into a side gig.
Its simple: Find items for cheap, and resell them for more money.
This includes furniture, books, clothes you name it.
Looking for some inspiration?
Meet the Flea Market Flipper, Rob Stephenson.
Hes made up to $30,000 a year finding flea market gems and reselling them on eBay.
He once found a prosthetic leg for $30 and resold it for $1,000.
Read histips on finding sellable products.
Can You Survive 10 Days of Budgeting?
If it’s crucial that you wrangle your budget, it may be time to consider a savings challenge.
Always assess your financial situation and risk tolerance before starting.
The income potential varies based on the method, your skills, and the time you might dedicate.
Others, like freelancing or virtual tutoring, will need a consistent time commitment each week.
Always research and adhere to local laws and guidelines.
Always research a companys reputation, read reviews, and trust your instincts.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Q7: Can I Combine Several of These Methods for Greater Income?A: Definitely.
Many of these methods can complement each other.
Q8: How Soon Can I Start Earning Money?A: It varies.
Some methods, like selling items on Amazon FBA or freelance work, can yield earnings relatively quickly.
Others, like building a successful bookkeeping business, might take longer to establish and start earning.
Q9: How Do I Manage Taxes for These Side Incomes?
A: Income from these methods is generally taxable.
Q10: Can These Methods Turn Into Full-Time Careers?
Success depends on your commitment, the demand for your skills, and your entrepreneurial approach.
Several former team members of The Penny Hoarder have turned freelancing into full-time businesses.
Carson Kohler ([email protected]) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.