Guide: Finding the Best Ways to Earn Extra Money
Finding the best ways to earn extra money can help you pad your pockets. With so many moneymaking opportunities available, it is important to find a method that fits into your life and works best for your needs.
When deciding how to make extra money, many people encounter questions:
- Can I make extra money with an app?
- What is the best way to earn extra cash without using a computer?
- How can I find online business opportunities?
- What are some common marketable skills that can produce extra income?
To answer each of these questions and provide the best information possible, AdvisoryHQ has built this guide.
It is designed to help you understand different methods to make extra income and the advantages and disadvantages offered by each. Armed with the facts, you can weigh your needs against the pros and cons of each to find the best way to earn extra money for your busy life.
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Earn Extra Cash Online
There is a wide range of online business opportunities that allow people to earn extra income from the comfort of their own homes.
Finding ways to earn extra money over the internet often offers burgeoning entrepreneurs the flexibility to choose when to work. It also allows them to choose between serious online income options and opportunities that just offer easy online money.
Open Your Own Online Store
Marketplaces like Etsy.com offer online business opportunities that can help you earn easy online money from your favorite hobby. If you are crafty or artistic, this may be one of the best ways to earn extra money.
With an online store, you can indulge in a personal passion like knitting, sewing, painting, pottery, almost anything, and sell your creations online to earn extra income. An added bonus is that you can keep on creating as much as your heart desires and earn easy online money without cluttering up your home.
Image Soure: Pixabay
Online business opportunities like this also give you the freedom to earn extra money while working for yourself. This is a low-pressure chance for online income because you can choose to only sell items that you have already made and ship them off when an order arrives. However, to earn extra money, you will rely on demand for your product, so make sure you are peddling something marketable.
Make Extra Money with Apps
There are a huge number of smartphone applications that allow users to earn extra cash. If your phone is always at your side, you may want to consider searching for profitable apps for a chance tokill free time and earn easy online money at the same time. The biggest flaw with this method is that earnings are generally very small.
You can earn extra cash doing a variety of things with apps, like:
- Receipt Hog: This is a free app that you can use to earn online income just by snapping quick pictures of your receipts. You can submit receipts from any store for any purchase. Receipt Hog is run by a marketing company that gathers market information with receipts to conduct research. According to the Receipt Hog website, all information is anonymous.
- Pact: This allows users to set a health or fitness goal and place a bet as to whether or not they will keep it. It will track your progress and let you win extra money for achieving your goal. However, if you do not follow through, you have to pay whatever you wagered.
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Participate in Studies to Make Extra Money
Participating in a study is usually an easy way to make money. If you are looking for a way to drum up some extra income with minimal effort, a study might be the right fit for you.
Medical researchers are always looking for test subjects and offer participants a way to earn extra income in exchange for cooperation. Companies and marketing firms also have a constant need for feedback and will let you earn extra cash in exchange for your consumer opinions.
Earn Extra Income Though a Clinical Trial
Clinical trials often require healthy adults to participate in control groups for medical research. Participants are often paid extra money for their time and effort. However, you may be required to take a particular medication or undergo a procedure to earn your extra money.
To get extra income through a clinical trial, you can find them using a simple search engine or a number of databases like: CISCRP.org, ClinicalTrials.gov, the National Institute of Health website.
Image Source: Pixabay
If you are comfortable with the idea of using medical experiments to earn extra income, this is probably a good option for you. Keep in mind that you may need to monitor and report any symptoms or lack thereof to the trial.
Pay attention to the requirements and eligibility associated with each trial that you consider. It is important that you be comfortable with the parameters of the study and that you are qualified to participate in exchange for extra income.
Use a Focus Group to Earn Extra Money
Participating in a focus group is an easy way to make money. Companies of all kinds use focus groups to gather feedback about products or advertising schemes and will pay participants for honest opinions.
Some focus groups are done in person, while others are conducted online. If you live in or around a city, you are more likely to be able to participate in person.
You can use websites like focusgroup.com, or findpaidfocusgroup.com to find good opportunities to earn extra income through a focus group. For some studies, it can take up to 8 weeks to receive payment, so this might not be a good option to earn extra cash quickly.
Use Surveys as a Quick Way to Earn Extra Cash
Surveys are like focus groups in that companies are looking for similar kinds of feedback and they can be used to make extra money. However, while focus groups can take hours, surveys can often be done very quickly to earn extra cash fast.
Surveys are simpler than focus groups, but often pay less money. Some surveys only pay a few dollars, but some can go as high as $50.
There are a lot of online survey scams that should be avoided at all cost. But, you can use a variety of apps or websites to help you find reliable surveys to earn extra income. Check out websites like vindale.com or mysurvey.com to help you find reliable opportunities to earn extra money through surveys.
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Pick Up Some Odd Jobs for Extra Money
If you find yourself wondering how to make extra money without making a huge commitment, doing some small odd jobs might be the best choice for you.
Performing odd jobs is a great way to earn extra money in and around your community. You can help out a neighbor or enjoy the outdoors, all while you earn extra cash.
If you enjoy landscaping, have a gift for providing care, or are handy with minor home repairs, the right odd jobs will be an easy way to make money. This is also a good option if you want to earn extra money without being connected to a computer.
Try Pet Care or House Sitting
One good way to earn extra cash is to advertise to neighbors, friends, or relatives that you are available to walk their dog, house sit, or care for their pets while they travel.
Image Source: Pixabay
This kind of work is generally informal and gives you a chance to earn extra cash while helping your friends. Many people would welcome a break from walking their dog or rest easy knowing that you, a trusted neighbor, are watching their home while they are away.
One drawback to this method is that animals, particularly if you are not familiar with them, can be unpredictable. If you are unsure about dealing with other people’s pets, just stick to house sitting. House plants are easier to handle than pets, but they will still need to be watered while their owners are out of town.
Start a Lawn Care Service
If you enjoy raking leaves, mowing grass, or clipping hedges, providing lawn care might offer the perfect opportunity to earn extra income. Post a flyer in your neighborhood, hand out business cards to your neighbors, or network with friends to find clients.
This is a good way to earn extra money, particularly during the summer months. This is when lawns need the most care and your neighbors might welcome the idea of letting you earn extra cash while they enjoy some air conditioning.
Find Odd Jobs Online
While you can always network with people you already know, you can also advertise your services through a site like Craigslist or care.com. This is a good way to earn extra money by expanding your client base.
When working with a site like care.com, you will need to provide personal information and may be required to have a background check. This kind of site vets and approves all users to ensure that workers are qualified and clients are legitimate.
If you use an unmonitored site like Craigslist, be careful to avoid scams. Interview potential clients ahead of time to ensure that you are both a good fit to work together. When used appropriately, this is a good way to earn extra money and find odd jobs near your home.
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Use Your Special Skills to Make Extra Money
One of the best ways to earn extra money is to capitalize on your special skills. If you have a relatively uncommon proficiency, do not let if go to waste. Market yourself and turn your passion into a path to earn extra money.
Even if you already have a job using your talent, looking for additional gigs is a good way to earn extra money. Make sure that your current contract allows you to take outside work; otherwise, you might jeopardize your day job in exchange for a little extra money.
The biggest issue with these methods is that they can turn into a big commitment. Once you have a contract with a client, it is important to follow through. If you are unable to formally commit to a job, this may not be a great option for you.
Do a Few Freelance Jobs
If you have a special, marketable skill and wonder about how to make extra money while improving your talents, freelance work is a good option to consider. This offers the opportunity to practice and build your portfolio while earning extra income.
Freelance work is a great way to earn extra money using a skill that you already have. Common freelance work includes but is not limited to writing, graphic design, photography, videography, social media management, and coding.
You can use a websites like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, or Guru to connect you with clients. You can also earn extra income by drumming up your own clients through independent networking.
Freelancing allows you to work on your own time, choose your own clients, and set prices for your work. You can use it to earn extra cash that supplements your income, or it could have the potential to become a full-time job.
Offer Translation Services
If you are multilingual, you may be sitting on the chance to earn extra income and not even know it. In an ever-expanding global market, translation is becoming more important and marketable.
Websites like Unbable offer online business opportunities for translators. They are able to work online or through a mobile app and can be paid between $8 and $18 an hour. Translators also have the luxury of choosing their own work.
If you work through a company, you will probably need to pass a language proficiency test, but once you’ve passed, the flexibility of this job makes this a great way to earn extra money — as little or as much as you want.
Though translation companies are one great option to earn extra cash as a translator, there is no need to limit your opportunities. You can also work as a translator by advertising locally or working through a freelance company.
Become a Mystery Shopper
Businesses and restaurants use mystery shoppers to help them evaluate their customer service and employee compliance. Mystery shoppers are assigned specific locations and tasks to perform.
Image Source: Pixabay
They must evaluate employee actions and, often, submit a written assessment of their experience. Mystery shopping is a good way to earn extra money, particularly if you love to shop. Shoppers are often paid for their time and reimbursed for purchases made during the evaluation.
Mystery shopping is an easy way to make money, but it is possible for opportunities to turn into scams. Be sure that you are working with a legitimate company before accepting a job. Some reputable mystery shopping companies include Market Force Information, Best Mark, and Sinclair Customer Metrics.
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Conclusion: Finding the Best Ways to Earn Extra Money
There are huge numbers of side jobs and opportunities to earn extra cash available to a well-informed entrepreneur. If you are trying to decide how to make extra money, it is important to find an opportunity that offers the right amount of flexibility and plays up your skills.
The key is finding the best fit for your lifestyle. For example, if you are constantly on your phone, you might want to use a money-making app. On the other hand, if you hate being on the computer, you might want a job that takes you outside.
To find the best way to earn extra money for your lifestyle, keep some of our larger points in mind:
- An online store can help you turn a hobby into an online business opportunity.
- You can earn extra income by providing market research information through apps, surveys, or focus groups.
- Odd jobs or house sitting can help you earn money in your local community.
- You can use special skills to perform freelance work on your own schedule.
- Clinical trials can help you earn extra cash, but they may have specific qualification standards.
Finding the best ways to earn extra money can help you save for an unexpected expense or free up some spending money. Each method or side job presented here offers both selling points and drawbacks. Some might be a better fit for your needs than others, but none could be considered wrong. To find the best method for you, find an option that fits into your life and complements your goals.
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