Earn extra money is something that can really change your life. Money can buy you freedom in more ways than one, despite what people may say.
There are a few guaranteed ways to make money that has withstood the test of time, but these are only ingredients and you still have to get into the kitchen to cook up your own recipe/ combination for financial success and independence.
There’s something on this list for everyone, but I wanted to start things off with my personal favorites in terms of making extra money. If you’re looking for ways to make money without investing a lot of time or effort, this is for you;
1. Get Paid to Do Online Surveys
Companies are willing to pay money to get inside the heads of consumers. If you’re looking for how to make extra money fast, look no further. They’re free to join and free to use. An example is survey junkie
Signing up for several survey sites will help you earn the most money. You’ll be eligible for more surveys, and it will allow you to pick the ones that pay the most money (helping you make the best use of your time).
2. Automate Your Savings
The hardest part about saving money is actually transferring the funds out of your checking account and into a savings or emergency fund. No one wants to see their savings account drop without an immediate benefit! But you can now automate saving so you never have to think about it. Just set a savings goal and a date.
3. Open a High-Yield Savings Account
Have you checked recently to see how much interest you’re earning from the money you have in the bank? For most people, it’s next to nothing.
Chances are, you can unlock a much higher interest rate (and earn a lot more money on your savings) by switching over to an online savings account. If you are earning a 0.05% APY now, you can find a bank that pays 2.00% APY or higher
4. Drive People Around
This is a really good use of your time if you are open to trying creative ways to make money. I stayed in a college town at some point and on game weekends, I can make upwards of $200 for just a few hours of driving with Uber.
Lyft is another great way to make extra money by using your car. Right now, new drivers who sign up with Lyft earn a $300 bonus after their first 100 rides. If you have weekend and evening availability, you could easily reach that in a few short weeks.
5. Rent Out Your Car
Think of this as Airbnb, but for your car. By listing your vehicle on Turo, you can make extra money by renting your car to people who need to borrow a ride. You get to choose your own rates, and you’re also covered with $1 million in liability insurance.
6. Become a Virtual Assistant
Online business owners are always looking for help with tasks. There is a wide range of services a Virtual Assistant can offer, from graphic design, blog editing, responding to emails, etc. High-end earners can command $50-$100 an hour.
7. Manage Social Media for Businesses
This can include advertising, but many businesses also need help just filling up their social media profiles with relevant (and consistent) content. If you enjoy learning about social media and want to take things a step further and make extra money, social media management is a great option. If you’re good at it, it can also open up a lot of doors for you down the road.
8. Cook
A college friend makes the most beautiful cookies and finds events to sell them all year long; birthdays, holidays, football parties, the list is endless.
Some people love to cook and bake. If this is you, consider running a catering business from your kitchen. Bake cakes or cookies for birthday parties, dinners, or other events. Make sure to abide by the food safety laws and have fun.
Many moms don’t have time to make homemade food for bake sales and parties and families who want a holiday feast without the trouble.
9. Invest in Real Estate (Starting with as Little as $500)
If you’ve ever wanted to try real estate investing but don’t want to deal with all the stress of being a landlord, you might want to consider a platform like Fundrise that allows you to invest directly in a real estate portfolio where a team of professionals identifies, acquires, and manages on your behalf. With a starting investment as small as $500, you get exposure to dozens of solid, value-producing assets.
No matter what your circumstances may be right now, remember one thing: earning more money means having more freedom in your life. You may have to try more than one money-making idea before you find one that sticks, but I promise you, once your income starts to rise, you will gain control of your life and find even more opportunities than you could ever imagine!
Best of luck
