Millions of people now find it necessary to work more than one job to pay their bills. One recent survey found that 29% of all American workers are also employed at a second job, either full or part-time.
However, you don’t need to take on a second full-time job outside of the home to make extra money online. Instead, consider the world of freelancing or working part-time on your schedule. Over 50 million Americans do independent freelance work to help them make ends meet or afford a little something extra.
How to Get Started on Making Extra Money
If you’re asking yourself, “how do I make extra money online?” you’ve come to the right place. There are many jobs that you can do in your spare time from your own home. Some even pay cash or gift card rewards instantly! While some of these ideas require a small initial investment, most do not. The best way to make some extra money is to get started! Procrastination is your enemy, but action pays off.
As you look through this article, consider your own strengths, weaknesses, and the amount of time you have available. Then choose one or two ideas and try them out. If they don’t work for you, try something else from the list! If you begin right away, you can start making money online today.
Start Paid Freelance Work Online
Are you good at writing, creating graphics, or putting together websites? Put your talents to work by establishing yourself as an online freelancer. There are many sites where you can promote your skills. Upwork, Guru, and Freelancer are just a few.
Set up a portfolio so potential clients can get to know you. Highlight some of the projects you’ve done in the past to spark their interest. (Hint: If you are a complete newbie, offer to do some projects for free or at a discount at first, so you have something to put in your portfolio.)
Don’t forget to include your contact information so people can reach you easily. A good headshot of yourself is also a must. People like to see who they are working with. Once you get rolling, you will start to get more paid work, and if you do a great job, you’ll have plenty of repeat clients.
Make Extra Money by Giving Your Opinion
Do you want to earn rewards for your opinion? Sharing your thoughts online is a simple task that can be done anywhere in your spare time. Survey companies pay their users to answer brief questionnaires about different products and services. All you need is an internet connection and a smartphone or computer to get started.
You’ll want to sign up for a legit paid survey site—one that will pay you in cash or gift cards. Since this work type is done in short bursts, you can easily work on surveys in between other daily tasks. For example, while commuting on the bus or train, between classes, or waiting in line.
Taking online surveys for money won’t make you rich, but you will earn some spare cash you can use to help you get ahead or afford some small luxuries.
Provide in-Home Childcare
If you like kids and have some experience with taking care of them, providing child care is one way to make extra money in your spare time. Qualified child care providers are sorely needed, especially if they are available at irregular hours, overnight, or on call. Before you take on this job, take a class on CPR and first aid for children. Then, advertise with local parent groups for free or join a childcare provider network to reach new customers.
During the pandemic, this service is in high demand. You may want to specialize by focusing exclusively on caring for just a few children at a time to reduce the risk of community spread. Children are little germ factories, so make sure there are frequent handwashing and sanitation measures in place.
Tutor Students or Teach a Skill
If you have a college degree or advanced training, consider becoming a tutor in your spare time. Some agencies connect tutors online to students from around the world, though you’ll need a reliable, high-speed internet connection. Online tutoring is an especially great way to make money online free, and it doesn’t require in-person contact.
Of course, you can also offer your tutoring services in person or teach a skill like music, dance, or art lessons from your home. Place ads online, in community forums and newspapers, at local schools, and with parent groups to find students who need help.
Become a Licensed Notary Public
You can’t just call yourself a notary public, but it only takes a little training and some paperwork to get started on this fun career. Each state has its requirements to receive your license, but none of them are difficult. Once you’ve taken steps to become a licensed notary public, advertise your services on free local social media sites to get customers at no cost.
Sell Your Old Clothes Online for Extra Money
Do you have a knack for finding unique, interesting, or valuable apparel at thrift stores and garage sales? If you have the know-how and initiative, you can make money by reselling these undervalued garments online.
You don’t have to be a fashion guru, although the savvy to spot knock-offs is essential. Instead, knowing how much something is worth if sold to the right audience is the most critical skill. Sites like eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy are good places to start.
Make Extra Money in Your Free Time by Working for a Call Center
If you have a reliable phone and computer and enjoy customer service, then working for a call center may be your perfect part-time job. Many large industries hire people to work from home taking calls, answering questions, and placing orders.
Most companies will provide you with training and support, allowing you to get started quickly. If you enjoy working in sales, you may have even more luck with a phone-based job that will enable you to work on commission, earning more with every transaction.
Get Paid to Write Online Reviews of the Places You’ve Been
If you love to travel and you have a knack for words, consider becoming a travel writer. Travel writers get to enjoy writing about all of the places they’ve visited, sometimes even enough to cover their trips. You’ll need to possess excellent writing and proofreading skills, and you’ll want to be sure to write for a legitimate digital publication.
A quick Google search for editors hiring travel writers will give you a heads-up of what to expect. Then, you can start pitching your story ideas and get some assignments. Have patience. It can take a while to break into travel writing, but it can be quite lucrative once you do.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve found an at-home job that works for you, reach out to your social networks to let everyone know that you’re available. In some cases, you’ll also have to file and pay taxes as an independent contractor, so factor that into your budget. Then, you can enjoy the added income your second job provides and feel good about making the most of your free time.
